Intra-epidermal Nerve Fibre Density and Its Relationship to Post-caesarean Section Pain

Chronic pain is a significant burden to the individual and society with post-surgical pain identified as a research priority for the speciality of anaesthesia.

The objectives are to explore the relationship between IENFD and pain after caesarean section and to explore the characteristics of post-caesarean section pain.

The hypothesis is that reduced pre-operative IENFD at the surgical site will correlate with risk of developing CPSP.

Based on the existing evidence, chronic pain after caesarean section appears to have an incidence between 12-18%; with the current Scottish caesarean section rate, this equates to approximately 3000 young, active women each year. Their lives may be affected by pain leading to increased analgesic use, a restriction of daily activities, decreased quality of life, and increased utilisation of healthcare services. The National Institute of Academic Anaesthesia (NIAA) has undertaken a priority setting exercise with 1700 patients and clinicians and declared the prevention of chronic post-surgical pain as one of its top 10 research priorities for the speciality of Anaesthesia.

IENFD is calculated by counting the number of nerve fibres crossing the basement membrane through direct visualisation of a skin biopsy that has undergone immunohistochemical staining. Skin biopsy is minimally invasive and allows visualisation of small fibre nociceptors that are not suitable for identification or study through nerve conduction studies.

There is emerging evidence from clinical studies that chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) patients have altered sensory innervation compared to healthy controls. In both colorectal cancer and multiple myeloma, pre-oncological treatment reductions in IENFD were associated with changes in physical testing, confirming a subclinical sensory deficit. The degree of loss of IENFD correlates with development of mechanical hyperalgesia and patients with greater sensory loss at baseline developed more symptoms during and after chemotherapy. To date there have been no studies that have examined the relationship between a patient's pre-operative IENFD and the development of chronic post-surgical pain.

This single cohort observational study shall recruit women undergoing elective caesarean section within the Simpson's Centre for Reproductive Health (SCRH). All women shall be sent a patient information sheet with a covering letter one week prior to the date of the surgery.

There shall be five discrete data collection points:

* Before caesarean section: a researcher shall collect patient demographic data, information about their general health and ask the patient to complete a Hospital Anxiety \& Depression Scale (HADS).
* At the time of caesarean section: a punch biopsy shall be taken from the incision site and be sent for INEFD testing. This will be carried out once surgical anaesthesia has been achieved thereby not causing any discomfort to the participant.
* 24 hours post caesarean section: The patient's electronic record shall be consulted, if there has been any traumatic events (e.g. death or significant injury to the baby) then we shall remove the patient from the study to prevent causing any further emotional distress. The participant will be informed of this.

A researcher shall ask the patient to complete the BPI (omitting section 9 that is non-applicable).

• 3 \& 6 months post caesarean section: The patient's electronic record shall be consulted, if there has been any traumatic events (e.g. death or significant injury to the baby) then we shall remove the patient from the study to prevent causing any further emotional distress. The participant will be informed of this.

A researcher shall contact participants by phone and, if they have pain, ask them to complete the following questionnaires: HADS, BPI and S-LANSS.

A researcher shall attempt to contact the patient twice via telephone, leaving a message if able, but if there is no answer or response then an assumption will be made that the participant wishes to longer be involved. No further attempts at contact will be made.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Women undergoing an elective caesarean section
* Aged 18-65 years

Exclusion Criteria:

* Women undergoing urgent caesarean section
* Women with little or no English language skills - the questionnaires used are only validated for use in the English language.
* Women with cognitive impairment or mental health disorder that inhibits their ability to provide consent and/or participate in follow-up