Chronic Post Surgical Pain

Abstract

• Chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP) is a recognised adverse consequence of surgery; surgery is common, therefore the population at risk is considerable. • Putative risk factors for CPSP include genetic predisposition, demographic, clinical (pain history, type of surgery, anaesthesia, acute pain severity), and psychological factors (vulnerability vs resilience). • Evidence of prevention is limited: long-term benefit from pre-emptive/perioperative analgesia has not been demonstrated consistently. • Large scale prospective studies with detailed pre, intra and postoperative multifactorial assessments are required to refine understanding of the aetiology and prognosis of CPSP.