title: Postoperative pain experiences in Chinese adult patients after thoracotomy and video-assisted thoracic surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the developing course of postoperative pain in a Chinese sample of patients following thoracic surgery.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Chronic postoperative pain following thoracic surgery including both thoracotomy and video-assisted thoracic surgery is often reported. However, research on pain trends concerning this topic is scarce with a notable lack of culturally focused studies by nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample included patients undergoing thoracotomy (n = 137) and video-assisted thoracic surgery (n = 143). Pain intensity and interference of pain with function were assessed during hospitalisation (day 1 to day 7 postoperatively) and followed up by telephone at 2 weeks and then at 1, 2, 3 and 6 months after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Moderate-to-severe pain when coughing and moving was reported in over 85% during hospitalisation, and a significant difference in pain was found between those undergoing a thoracotomy (61%) and those having video-assisted surgery (34%). Many patients whose immediate postoperative pain was poorly managed tended to report high pain levels after discharge and continued to have clinically important chronic pain 6 months after surgery. The pain intensity mean score during movement in the first five postoperative days was an important predictor of clinically important chronic pain, and those experiencing severe acute pain during hospitalisation had a higher probability of developing chronic pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postoperative pain after thoracic surgery warrants greater attention because those experiencing severe acute pain during hospitalisation have a higher probability of developing chronic pain. Aggressive pain management and multimodal analgesia are recommended to prevent long-term suffering in patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic pain after thoracic surgery remains a challenge in clinical nursing. To improve pain management quality and to prevent the transition of acute postoperative pain to chronic pain, standardised practice protocols and comprehensive physician and nurse education are highly recommended.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shanqing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Naixin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Beijing United Family Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Hongju
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Huaping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid
keywords: chronic postsurgical pain; thoracic surgery; thoracotomy; time course; video-assisted thoracotomy