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Updated: Oct 22, 2025
An Experimental Paradigm for the Prediction of Post-Operative Pain PPOP
Published on: January 27, 2010
Incidence of Acute and Chronic Post-Thoracotomy Pain in Pediatric Patients
Giuliano Marchetti1, Alessandro Vittori1, Fabio Ferrari1
1Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, ARCO Roma, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
Insights
This study found that chronic pain after pediatric thoracotomy is uncommon, with only 5.3% of patients experiencing neuropathic pain at follow-up. Acute pain was also managed effectively in most children undergoing surgery for benign conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Pain Management
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Thoracotomy in children can lead to acute and chronic pain.
- Effective pain management is crucial for pediatric surgical recovery.
- Understanding long-term pain outcomes informs best practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the incidence of acute and chronic pain after pediatric thoracotomy.
- To assess the impact of different anesthetic techniques on pain outcomes.
- To determine the prevalence of chronic post-thoracotomy pain syndrome in children.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of pediatric patients undergoing thoracotomy for benign disease.
- Telephone interviews conducted at least three months post-surgery.
- Analysis of anesthetic techniques, acute pain episodes, and chronic pain status.
Main Results:
- 37.5% of patients experienced acute postoperative pain.
- Only 5.3% of patients reported chronic neuropathic pain at the surgical scar.
- No significant difference in acute pain incidence or severity based on anesthetic strategy.
Conclusions:
- Chronic post-thoracotomy pain syndrome is rare in pediatric patients.
- Anesthetic technique did not significantly influence acute pain outcomes.
- This study highlights the generally favorable long-term pain profile following pediatric thoracotomy.
Abstract:
We studied acute and chronic pain in pediatric patients who underwent thoracotomy for benign disease with a follow-up of at least three months. A telephone interview investigated about the presence of pain and the analgesic therapy in progress. The results were compared with the anesthetic technique, postoperative pain and the adequacy of pain therapy, both during the first week after surgery and at the time of interview. Fifty-six families consented to the study. The mean age of the children at surgery was 2.9 ± 4.5 years, while at the time of the interview was 6.5 ± 4.4 years. We performed different anesthetic strategies: Group A: general anesthesia (36 pts); Group B: general anesthesia and thoracic epidural (10 pts); Group C: general anesthesia and intercostal nerve block (10 pts). During the immediate postoperative period, 21 patients (37.5%) had at least one painful episode. At the time of interview, 3 children (5.3%) had moderate chronic neuropathic (burning) pain on surgical scar. There was no statistically significant difference between the type of anesthesia and the incidence and severity of acute post-operative pain. Despite its limitations, this study confirms the low incidence of chronic post-thoracotomy pain syndrome in children.
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