Chronic thoracic pain in cardiothoracic surgery via thoracotomy and sternotomy: risk factors and outcomes

Sangar Sarkaut  Mohammed; Bashar Hanna  Azar; Aram  Baram

doi:10.56056/

Authors

Sangar Sarkaut Mohammed M.B.Ch.B., Cardiothoracic and Vascular surgery at Kurdistan Higher Council of Medical Specialties (KHCMS), Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.
Bashar Hanna Azar M.B.Ch.B., F.I.C.M.S (Cardiothoracic and Vascular surgery), Senior lecturer at College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Aram Baram M.B.Ch.B., MD, MRCSED, FACS, AFSCTS (Cardiothoracic and Vascular surgery), Professor of Cardiothoracic and Vascular surgery at College of Medicine, University of Sulaymaniyah, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56056/

Keywords:

Cardiothoracic surgery, Chronic pain, Predictors, Sternotomy, Thoracotomy

Abstract

Background and Objective: With a frequency of 9%–64% within 1 or 2 years following the procedure, chronic thoracic pain is a prevalent issue among patients receiving thoracic surgery. The purpose of this research was to identify the risk factors for chronic pain one year following thoracotomy and sternotomy, and to document its detrimental effects.

Methods: We have enrolled 102 individuals who had thoracotomies and sternotomies at the Rizgari Teaching Hospital and the Erbil Cardiac Center between May and July 2023 in this case series study. Patients were contacted a year later to inquire about the development of chronic pain following surgery and whether or not the pain was interfering with their day-to-day activities. During the tele interview, certain potential risk factors like advanced age, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and duration of surgery were also sought after.

Results: The incidence of pain following surgery was 79.4%. Following a review of the patient's medical history, 66.7% of diabetic patients, 77.8% of those with a positive smoking history, and all 10 thoracotomy cases (12.3%), had postoperative pain with statistically significant p values of (0.04), (0.05), and (0.03) respectively. Mean health scale score was considerably poorer among patients who had pain, p value (0.03).

Conclusions: Postoperatively, a number of variables were substantially linked to persistent thoracic pain. Prior to surgery, patients should be informed of this and its implications.

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