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Abstract
Background and Aims Determine the incidence, characteristics, impact, and risk factors associated with persistent incisional pain.
Methods Patients who were 45 years of age or older who underwent major inpatient noncardiac surgery. Data were collected perioperatively and at 1 yeat after surgery to assess for the development of persistent incisional pain.
Results At one year, from 3.3% to 3.6% patients reported persistent incisional pain. Several demographic and perioperative factors have been identified to be associated with increased risk of persistent pain. Risk factors associated with this problem were young and females patients, tobacco use, coronary artery disease, history of chronic pain, Asian ethnicity, type of surgery, consumption of NSAIDs and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors before surgery, insulin not taken before surgery, postoperative PCA use and postoperative continuous nerve block use. Endoscopic surgery were associated with a lower risk of persistent pain. 81% of patients reported one or more features of neuropathic pain characteristics and 85.1% reported interference of pain on some aspect of their daily living. 52.7% of patients with persistent incisional pain reported taking a pain medication.
Incidence of persistent incisional pain in specific surgical populations
Conclusions Persistent pain is unfortunately a common and problematic complication after surgery and it continues to be a significant source of distress, occurring in approximately one in thirty adults. At one year, from 3.3% to 3.6% patients reported persistent incisional pain. It is fundamental identify the incidence, characteristics, impact, and risk factors associated with the development of persistent incisional pain so that it results in significant morbidity, interferes with daily living, and is associated with persistent analgesic consumption.