Changes in sensory processing after surgical nociception

Nociception results in peripheral and central changes in sensory processing. These changes are considered to significantly contribute to postoperative pain and its outcome. Objective measures of changes in sensory processing are now being studied in humans after surgery. Surgical nociception leads to both central excitation (eg, spinal sensitization) and central inhibition (eg, descending inhibition), with inhibition being the dominant response during the first day or so after surgery. Analgesia commenced before surgery (preemptive analgesia) depresses central sensitization and enhances central inhibition. Patients operated on under nonanalgesic anesthesia may exhibit rebound central sensitization for up to 5 days postoperatively after the cessation of postoperative opioid analgesia. There is only a weak relationship between the described objective changes in sensory processing after surgical nociception and subjective clinical pain measures such as pain intensity scales or postoperative analgesic consumption.