title: The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire-Revised to evaluate persistent pain and surgery-related symptoms in healthy women undergoing a planned cesarean delivery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The incidence of chronic pain after cesarean delivery (CD) has been estimated to range between 0.3% and 18%. This wide range may be explained by differing study methodologies. Furthermore, a comprehensive characterization of pain quality is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate persistent pain in a healthy obstetric population undergoing planned CD and to provide a comprehensive description of pain quality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred eighty-one women with no pain history undergoing CD were included in this prospective, observational cohort study. Spinal anesthesia was standardized, and postoperative pain was recorded at 24 hours. In each woman, pain was assessed at 8 weeks, and 6 and 12 months using questionnaires of pain intensity and interference. Pain quality was assessed using the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire-Revised.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of persistent pain at 8 weeks was 11% (95% confidence interval, 8%-14%), with pain reported as being mild and interfering with common daily activities by 32% of women. At 6 and 12 months, the incidence was 3% (95% confidence interval, 2%-6%) and 0.6% (95% confidence interval, 0%-2%) respectively, with pain rarely interfering with daily activities. However, 22% of women described other surgery-related symptoms at 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of chronic pain at 12 months after planned CD is low (0.6%) and if present symptoms are mostly mild and not interfering with common daily activities. Using Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire-Revised, this study provides a comprehensive evaluation of pain quality that can be used as a basis in future post-CD pain trials.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; and †Department of Anesthesiology, Maternity Hospital Santa Joana, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Clemens M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ortner
authors.forename: Dennis C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Turk
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Theodore
authors.forename: Monica M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Siaulys
authors.forename: Laurant A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Bollag
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Landau
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics