Risk Factors for Chronic Postsurgical Abdominal and Pelvic Pain

SUMMARY

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) may develop after any surgical procedure, and is a common feature after abdominal and pelvic surgery with a prevalence varying between 10 and 40%. The pathological mechanisms leading to chronic CPSP are probably inflammation, tissue and nerve damage and alterations in central pain processing. The mechanisms in chronic postsurgical abdominal and pelvic pain are poorly studied and research has largely focused on reporting of prevalence and describing risk factors, including patient characteristics, psychological factors, surgical procedure and pre- and acute postoperative pain. In this review, the most important risk factors are discussed, and aiming for preventive, personalized health care, possible methods for prediction of susceptibility and potential strategies for diminishing chronic postsurgical abdominal and pelvic pain are provided.

KEYWORDS::

• abdominal and pelvic surgery
• chronic postsurgical pain
• prediction
• risk factors

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors are supported by their university medical center. They are also supported by a grant of the European Union, the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRO, ‘Here is an investment in your future’). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are supported by their university medical center. They are also supported by a grant of the European Union, the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRO, ‘Here is an investment in your future’). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.