Chronic postthoracotomy pain and health-related quality of life.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pain after thoracotomy is common. The objective of this study was to assess whether pain 3 months postthoracotomy negatively impacts quality of life.

Methods

One hundred ten patients were prospectively assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey before and 3 months after elective thoracotomy. Pain and medication use were evaluated by questionnaire. Patients experiencing pain at 3 months were compared with patients who did not have postthoracotomy pain.

Results

Seventy-five patients (68%) had pain 3 months postthoracotomy; 12 patients (11%) rated their average pain greater than 3 (out of 10). Eighteen (16%) patients required opioid analgesics. The pain group reported lower SF-36 scores in physical functioning (p = 0.049), bodil

SUBMITTER: Kinney MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3442599 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature