The Acute to Chronic Pain Transition: Can Chronic Pain Be Prevented?

John-Paul J Pozek; David Beausang; Jaime L Baratta; Eugene R Viscusi

doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2015.08.005

The Acute to Chronic Pain Transition: Can Chronic Pain Be Prevented?

Med Clin North Am. 2016 Jan;100(1):17-30. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2015.08.005. Epub 2015 Oct 27.

Authors

John-Paul J Pozek¹, David Beausang², Jaime L Baratta³, Eugene R Viscusi²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Gibbon Building, Suite 8280, 111 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. Electronic address: John-Paul.Pozek@jefferson.edu.
² Department of Anesthesiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Gibbon Building, Suite 8490, 111 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
³ Department of Anesthesiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Gibbon Building, Suite 8280, 111 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.

PMID: 26614716
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2015.08.005

Abstract

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is a distressing disease process that can lead to long-term disability, reduced quality of life, and increased health care spending. Although the exact mechanism of development of CPSP is unknown, nerve injury and inflammation may lead to peripheral and central sensitization. Given the complexity of the disease process, no novel treatment has been identified. The preoperative use of multimodal analgesia has been shown to decrease acute postoperative pain, but it has no proven efficacy in preventing development of CPSP.

Keywords: Central sensitization; Chronic postsurgical pain; Gabapentinoids; Ketamine; Neuropathic pain; Peripheral sensitization; Quantitative sensory testing.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Acute Pain / etiology
Acute Pain / therapy*
Chronic Pain / etiology
Chronic Pain / therapy*
Combined Modality Therapy / methods*
Humans
Pain Management / methods*
Pain Measurement
Pain, Postoperative / etiology
Pain, Postoperative / therapy*
Quality of Life