Chronic Postsurgical Pain Following Lung Transplantation: Characteristics, Risk Factors, Treatment, and Prevention: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Abstract Chronic pain after lung transplantation (LTx) can substantially reduce quality of life (QoL), yet current consensus guidelines say little about how to prevent or manage it. Research on pain after LTx has tended to focus on acute rather than chronic pain, and it has not extensively examined the factors associated with onset or resolution of chronic pain, which differ from factors influencing chronic pain after general thoracic surgery. This narrative review explores what is known about the epidemiology and risk factors of chronic pain after LTx, as well as effective ways to treat or prevent it. The review identifies key questions and issues that should be the focus of future research.

Keywords

• Lung transplantation
• Chronic postsurgical pain
• Chronic pain
• Pain management
• Analgesia