When pain after surgery doesn't go away...
Chronic post-surgical pain is a common, under-recognized and important clinical problem which affects millions of patients worldwide. It results from a series of neuroplastic changes associated most commonly with peripheral nerve injury at the time of surgery. Predisposing factors include the type of surgery, pre-operative and acute post-operative pain intensity, and probably psychological (e.g. pain-catastrophizing) and genetic factors [e.g. GCH1 (GTP cyclohydrolase 1) haplotype]. Preventive measures which are currently available include selection of a minimally invasive surgical technique and an aggressive multimodal perioperative analgesic regimen. Very promising therapeutic agents which target the sensitization process are currently in development.
Burke
Siún
S
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Ireland.
Shorten
George D
GD
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors