Chronic Pain After Lung Resection: Risk Factors, Neuropathic Pain, and Quality of Life

Abstract

ContextChronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) can occur frequently after thoracic surgery. ObjectivesThis retrospective study aimed to determine CPSP prevalence, risk factors, neuropathic pain (NP) occurrence, and its impact on quality of life. MethodsAbout 200 patients who underwent lung resection via minithoracotomy or thoracoscopy between January 2017 and December 2017 were assessed 4–12 months postoperatively via phone interview for chronic pain by a 0–10 Numeric Rating Scale, for NP using the Douleur Neuropathique 4 test, and for quality of life using a Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey (Italian version). ResultsCPSP incidence was 35% (n = 70 of 200; 95% CI 41–28) of which 31.5% (n = 22 of 70; 95% CI 41–21) was with NP. Only 10% of patients with CPSP reported severe chronic pain. According to univariate analysis, CPSP was associated to moderate and severe acute postoperative pain (P < 0.001), open surgery (P = 0.001), and female gender (P = 0.044). According to multivariable analysis, independent risk factors for CPSP development included moderate-to-severe acute postoperative pain occurrence (odds ratio 32.61; 95% CI 13.37–79.54; P < 0.001) and open surgery (odds ratio 6.78; 95% CI, 2.18–21.03; P = 0.001). NP incidence was higher in female patients (16% in women and 6% in men, respectively; P = 0.040). A significant decrease in all SF-36 Health Survey domain scores was recorded for patients with CPSP and NP (P < 0.001). ConclusionMore than one of three patients who underwent lung resection could develop CPSP, frequently showing neuropathic component. Female gender reported a higher CPSP and NP incidence. Moderate-to-severe acute postoperative pain occurrence and open surgery seem to be independent risk factors for CPSP. Chronic pain and NP have a negative impact on quality of life, decreasing the SF-36 scores of all domains.