Chronic Pain Following Pediatric Liver Transplantation: A Single-Center Prospective Observational Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Transplantation Medicine
• Pain Management

Background:

• Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) affects ~20% of children post-surgery, impacting quality of life.
• Data on CPSP prevalence in pediatric liver transplant recipients is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of CPSP in pediatric liver transplant recipients.
• To identify factors associated with CPSP in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 242 pediatric liver transplant recipients (age >6 years, >3 months post-transplant) completed questionnaires on pain.
• CPSP was defined as pain >3 months post-surgery with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) ≥3.
• Multivariate analysis was used to identify associated factors.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of CPSP was 5.0% (12/242 patients).
• Female sex was the only factor independently associated with CPSP (OR=2.91).
• Two patients reported interference with daily activities; pain intensity (VAS) was 4.4 for those with CPSP.

Conclusions:

• CPSP prevalence is low in pediatric liver transplant recipients, though underreporting is possible.
• Some patients experience persistent pain years after transplantation, necessitating long-term follow-up.
• Identifying at-risk individuals, such as females, is crucial for targeted interventions.