Chronic pain is the most common symptom for which patients seek medical care (19% in the United Stated). According to the Federal Pain Research Strategy, the most important problem in pain research is “objectively measuring pain and predicting which patients are at risk for developing chronic pain”. Approximately 22% of patients develop chronic pain as a consequence of surgery, and thoracic surgery is the cause of chronic postsurgical pain in 20% to 80% of patients. The incidence of chronic pain at 6 months after thoracic surgery, the impact of chronic postsurgical pain on patients’ daily life, and predictors of acute and chronic pain after thoracic surgery will be presented.

Emine O. Bayman, PhD