However , intercostal nerve injury seems to be the most important pathogenic factor .
Chronic pain complaints after thoracic surgery represent a significant clinical problem in 25 - 60 % of patients .
Results from thoracic and other surgical procedures suggest multiple pathogenic mechanisms that include pre- , intra- , and postoperative factors .
This review attempts to analyse the methodology and systematic s of the studies on the  post-thoracotomy pain syndrome ( PTPS ) after lung cancer surgery in adults , in order to clarify the relative role of possible pathogenic factors and to define future strategies for prevention .
The Effects of Three Different Analgesia Techniques on Long-Term Postthoracotomy Pain
In this clinical , r and omized , prospect i ve study , we compared the effects of three different analgesia techniques ( thoracic epidural analgesia [ TEA ] with and without preoperative initiation and IV patient-controlled analgesia [ IV-PCA ] ) on postthoracotomy pain in 69 patients . In two groups , a thoracic epidural catheter was inserted preoperatively . Group Pre-TEA had bupivacaine and morphine solution preoperatively and intraoperatively . Postoperative analgesia was maintained with epidural PCA with a similar solution . Group Post-TEA , with no intraoperative medication , had the same postoperative analgesia as Group Pre-TEA plus the bolus dose . Group IV-PCA received only IV-PCA with morphine for postoperative analgesia . Pain was evaluated every 4 h during the first 48 h at rest , cough , and movement . Pre-TEA was associated with decreased pain compared with the other groups . Six months later , the patients were asked about their pain . The incidence and the intensity of pain were most frequent in Group IV-PCA ( 78 % ) and were the least in Group Pre-TEA ( 45 % ) ( Group Pre-TEA versus Group IV-PCA , P = 0.0233 ; Group Pre-TEA versus Group IV-PCA , P = 0.014 ) . Patients having pain on the second postoperative day had 83 % chronic pain . TEA with preoperative initiation is a preferable method in preventing acute and long-term thoracotomy pain
However , intercostal nerve injury seems to be the most important pathogenic factor .
Chronic pain complaints after thoracic surgery represent a significant clinical problem in 25 - 60 % of patients .
Results from thoracic and other surgical procedures suggest multiple pathogenic mechanisms that include pre- , intra- , and postoperative factors .
This review attempts to analyse the methodology and systematic s of the studies on the  post-thoracotomy pain syndrome ( PTPS ) after lung cancer surgery in adults , in order to clarify the relative role of possible pathogenic factors and to define future strategies for prevention .