Chronic postsurgical pain after living donor hepatectomy

Postoperative pain lasting longer than 90 days is defined as chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) and is known to be a long-term bothersome problem for surgical patients. The study presents the incidence, characteristics, and risk factors of CPSP in living donor hepatectomy (LDH). This was a single-center, retrospective study using the institution’s electronic files and the CPSP questionnaire completed during the telephone interview. Of 123 patients assessed, 114 (92.6%) had acute postoperative pain, 15 (12.2%) reported CPSP, 11 (8.9%) reported ongoing pain, and 3 (2.4%) indicated that pain was their most significant health concern. Neuropathic pain was identified in 9 (7.3%), with 6 still requiring medication for pain relief. Analyses of univariate (age, height, comorbidities, previous surgery, and features of acute postoperative pain) and logistic regression (age [β = 1.065; P = .033], comorbidities [β = 5.875; P = .003], previous abdominal surgery [β = 3.234; P = .039], acute pain severity [β = 1.368; P = .021], and duration of pain [β = 1.044; P = .001]) revealed significant associations between the variables and CPSP. A subgroup of patients with a relatively lower rate of CPSP continues to endure moderate to mild CPSP with neuropathic features in the long term. We think that attention to donor’s previous features and effective treatment of acute pain severity that takes into account the neuropathic component may reduce the development of CPSP in living liver donors.