Incidence Of Post-thoracotomy Pain Syndrome Research Articles

Post-thoracotomy Pain Syndrome.

This article reviews PTPS demographics, diagnosis, pathophysiology, surgical and anesthetic techniques, and their role in preventing PTPS along with updated treatment options. Post-thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS) can be incapacitating. The neuropathic type pain of PTPS is along the incision site and persists at least 2months postoperatively. There is a wide reported range of prevalence of PTPS. There are several risk factors that have been identified including surgical technique and younger age. Several surgical and anesthetic techniques have been trialed to reduce pain after thoracotomy. Multimodal pain control is the suggested long-term treatment plan for patients with PTPS. There are several factors that can be modified to reduce pain and incidence of PTPS during the perioperative period and the use of multimodal analgesia is suggested for the treatment of PTPS.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery lowers the incidence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome.

We compared post-thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS) incidence in patients who underwent uniportal or multiportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). We included 223 patients who underwent either uniportal or multiportal VATS between January 2017 and October 2018 (pulmonary lobectomies and pulmonary segmentectomies-uniportal: n=19, multiportal: n=133; wedge lung resections-uniportal: n=16, multiportal: n=55). We retrospectively studied incidences of PTPS in all subgroups. Incidences of PTPS were significantly less for uniportal procedures for both the pulmonary lobectomy/segmentectomy group (P=0.024) and the wedge lung resection group (P=0.0315) than for multiportal procedures. Patients who underwent uniportal VATS procedures had lower incidences of PTPS than the multiportal VATS group. The uniportal VATS approach is therefore beneficial for patients.

The impact of ultrasound-guided continuous serratus anterior plane block versus intravenous patient-controlled analgesia on the incidence and severity of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome: A randomized, controlled study.

The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate U/S guided serratus anterior plane catheter block (SAPB) versus patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) on the emergence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS) after thoracotomies for thoracic tumours. This trial included 89 patients with chest malignancies, scheduled for thoracotomy were randomly allocated into two groups: Group A "PCA-group N=44" receiving patient-controlled analgesia and group B "SAPB group N=45" where analgesia was provided by SAPB. The primary outcome measure was the assessment for the possible emergence of PTPS at 12weeks. The secondary outcome measures were pain relief measured using visual analog scale (VAS) score, Quality of life was assessed using Flanagan Quality of Life Scale (QOLS) and Activity level was assessed using Barthel Activity of daily living (ADL) score. At week 8, PTPS incidence was significantly (p=.037) higher in the PCA group (45%) than in the SAPB group (24%) with a relative risk of 1.38 and 95% CI (1.01-1.9) while the incidence of PTPS at week 12 was significantly (p=.035) higher in the PCA group (43%) than in the SAPB group (22%) with a relative risk of 2.38 and 95% CI (1.23-4.57). The need for pain therapy in PTPS patients was significantly lower in the SAPB group (17.7%) than the PCA group (38.6%) (p=.028) at week 12. Pain intensity: VAS-R and VAS-D (pain scores at rest and with activity, respectively) was comparable (p>.05) between both groups at 6, 12, 18 and 24 hr, however VAS was significantly higher in the PCA group at week 8 (p=.046) and week 12 (p=.032) . Both groups were comparable regarding ADL and QOL scores (p>.05). Serratus anterior plane block is assumed to be a good alternative for post-thoracotomy analgesia following thoracotomies. The current work hypothesized that SAPB for a week postoperatively, may reduce the emergence of PTPS and may reduce the demand for pain therapy in those patients. The current work hypothesized that SAPB for a week postoperatively, is a good loco-regional alternative for post-thoracotomy analgesia following thoracotomies for chest malignancies, it may reduce the emergence of PTPS and the demand for pain therapy in these patients.

The Effect of Pre-Emptive Dexmedetomidine on the Incidence of Post-Thoracotomy Pain Syndrome in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

BackgroundPost-thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS) is pain that recurs or persists along a thoracotomy incision for at least two months following surgery. Dexmedetomidine (dex) is an α-2 agonist that also has analgesic, sedative-hypnotic, and sympatholytic properties.ObjectivesTo determine the effect of pre-emptive dexmedetomidine on the incidence of PTPS in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).Patients and MethodsThis randomized clinical trial enrolled 104 candidates for elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and randomly assigned them to either a dex group or a control group. In the dex group, dexmedetomidine 0.5 µg/kg/hour was infused from the initiation of anesthesia until postoperative extubation in the intensive-care unit. Two months after surgery, the patients were contacted by telephone and interviewed to determine the presence of pain at the thoracotomy scars.ResultsFifty-four patients were placed in the control group, and 50 patients were assigned to the dex group. The age, sex, and body mass index were not significantly different between the two groups of study (P > 0.05). The incidence of PTPS was 11/50 (22%) patients in the dex group and 28/54 patients (52%) in the control group. A chi-square test revealed a significant difference in the incidence of PTPS after two months between the dex and control groups (P = 0.032).ConclusionsPTPS is a common problem following CABG, and pre-emptive therapy with dex may decrease neuropathic pain.

Effect of Continuous Paravertebral Dexmedetomidine Administration on Intraoperative Anesthetic Drug Requirement and Post-Thoracotomy Pain Syndrome After Thoracotomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

To assess the effect of paravertebral administration of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to local anesthetic on the intraoperative anesthetic drug requirement and incidence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome. Prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind trial. Single university hospital. The study comprised 30 patients who underwent elective thoracotomy and were assigned randomly to either the Ropin or Dexem group (n = 15 each). All patients received the study medications through paravertebral catheter. Patients in the Ropin group received a bolus of 15 mL of 0.75% ropivacaine over 3-to-5 minutes followed by an infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine at 0.1 mL/kg/hour. Patients in the Dexem group received 15 mL of 0.75% ropivacaine plus dexmedetomidine, 1 µg/kg bolus over 3-to-5 minutes followed by an infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine plus 0.2 µg/kg/hour of dexmedetomidine at 0.1 mL/kg/hour. The primary outcome of the study was intraoperative anesthetic drug requirement. The secondary outcome was the incidence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome 2 months after surgery. The amount of propofol required for induction of anesthesia was significantly less in the Dexem group (Dexem 49.33±20.51 v 74.33±18.40 in the Ropin group, p = 0.002). End-tidal isoflurane needed to maintain target entropy was significantly less in the Dexem group at all time points. Intraoperative fentanyl requirement was lower in the Dexem group (Dexem 115.33±33.77 v 178.67±32.48 in the Ropin group, p = 0.002). Postoperative pain scores and morphine consumption were significantly less in the Dexem group (p<0.001). The incidence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome was comparable between the 2 groups (69.23% v 50%, p = 0.496). Paravertebral dexmedetomidine administration resulted in decreased intraoperative anesthetic drug requirement, less pain, and lower requirements of supplemental opioid in the postoperative period. However, it had no effect on the incidence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome.

Effect of perioperative oral pregabalin on the incidence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome

Background Chronic post-thoracotomy pain, which is defined as pain that recurs or persists for more than 2 months, is a common problem affecting the quality of life of patients. We have evaluated the efficacy of perioperative pregabalin for reducing postoperative pain and the incidence of chronic post-thoracotomy pain. Patients and methods Sixty patients aged 30-49 years undergoing thoracotomy were allocated randomly to receive either pregabalin (75 mg oral twice daily for 5 days before and 5 days after the operation) or placebo at corresponding times in a double-blinded manner. Both groups received the same anesthetic technique. Our primary target was to measure the incidence of chronic postsurgical pain using the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs Pain Scale at 3- and 6-month intervals. Morphine consumption was measured as well as the length of hospital stay and the occurrence of postoperative systemic complications. Results Pregabalin decreased the incidence of chronic postoperative pain at 3 and 6 months from 60 and 40% to 10 and 6.7%, respectively. Also, pregabalin decreased the postoperative acute pain intensity as indicated by lower morphine consumption ( P P Conclusion Perioperative pregabalin reduces the incidence of chronic post-thoracotomy pain, with less postoperative morphine consumption together with early hospital discharge.

Pre-emptive Effect of Multimodal Analgesia in Thoracic Surgery

Thirty subjects undergoing posterolateral thoracotomy were allocated randomly to receive one of two analgesic regimens: group Pre received i.v. morphine, i.m. diclofenac and intercostal nerve blocks from T2 to T11, 20 min before operation and placebo injections after operation. Group Post received placebo injections before operation, and i.v. morphine, i.m. diclofenac and intercostal nerve blocks from T2 to T11 at the end of surgery, before discontinuation of anaesthesia. Visual analogue pain scores, extent and duration of intercostal nerve block, analgesic consumption and complications were assessed during the postoperative period by a single blinded observer. Subjects were followed-up for a minimum of 12 months to determine the incidence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome. During the first 48 h after operation there were lower pain scores in group Pre when taking a vital capacity breath but there were no significant differences between the groups in any other measure. The effects of pre-emptive analgesia given before surgery appeared to be relatively modest in terms of analgesia, analgesic consumption and long-term outcome and were of limited clinical significance.

Pre-emptive effect of multimodal analgesia in thoracic surgery

Thirty subjects undergoing posterolateral thoracotomy were allocated randomly to receive one of two analgesic regimens: group Pre received i.v. morphine, i.m. diclofenac and intercostal nerve blocks from T2 to T11, 20 min before operation and placebo injections after operation. Group Post received placebo injections before operation, and i.v. morphine, i.m. diclofenac and intercostal nerve blocks from T2 to T11 at the end of surgery, before discontinuation of anaesthesia. Visual analogue pain scores, extent and duration of intercostal nerve block, analgesic consumption and complications were assessed during the postoperative period by a single blinded observer. Subjects were followed-up for a minimum of 12 months to determine the incidence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome. During the first 48 h after operation there were lower pain scores in group Pre when taking a vital capacity breath but there were no significant differences between the groups in any other measure. The effects of pre-emptive analgesia given before surgery appeared to be relatively modest in terms of analgesia, analgesic consumption and long-term outcome and were of limited clinical significance.

Pain management and spirometry following thoracotomy: A prospective, randomized study of four techniques

Forty-five patients who underwent anterolateral and posterolateral thoracotomy were studied to compare the relative efficacy of cryoanalgesia, epidural morphine, intrapleural analgesia, and intravenous morphine for relief of postoperative pain and prevention of deterioration in pulmonary function. Spirometry (FEV 1, FVC) was performed preoperatively and postoperatively. Patients' pain was assessed using the 0 to 100 mm visual analog scale. Because intravenous morphine was used to supplement pain relief in the patients who received intrapleural analgesia and cryoanalgesia, total morphine use was compared to that administered to patients in the intravenous morphine group. Epidural morphine was found to offer better pain relief than the other treatment modalities. There were no differences in spirometric testing between the groups at any time during the study. Although the number of evaluable patients was insufficient to draw definitive conclusions, 12-week follow-up suggested a difference in the incidence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome in patients who received cryoanalgesia. It is concluded that post-thoracotomy pain is best relieved with epidural morphine, compared to intrapleural analgesia, cryoanalgesia, and parenteral morphine. There was no change in the deterioration in spirometric tests after thoracotomy, nor was there any advantage offered by cryoanalgesia or intrapleural analgesia over intravenous morphine, with respect to pain relief.