Rogers M L, Duffy J P
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Nottingham City Hospital, Hucknall Road, NG5 1PB, Nottingham, UK.
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2000 Dec;18(6):711-6. doi: 10.1016/s1010-7940(00)00569-8.
Chronic post-thoracotomy pain is a continuous dysaesthetic burning and aching in the general area of the incision that persists at least 2 months after thoracotomy. It occurs in approximately 50% of patients after thoracotomy and is usually mild or moderate. However, in 5% the pain is severe and disabling. No one technique of thoracotomy has been shown to reduce the incidence of chronic postthoracotomy pain. The most likely cause is intercostal nerve damage, although the precise mechanism for this is not known. Future work needs to examine surgical technique in detail. Until then, patients need to be adequately warned of this sequela of thoracotomy.
开胸术后慢性疼痛是指在切口周围区域持续存在的一种持续性感觉异常性灼痛和酸痛，在开胸术后至少持续2个月。约50%的开胸术后患者会出现这种情况，通常为轻至中度。然而，有5%的患者疼痛严重且致残。尚无一种开胸手术技术被证明可降低开胸术后慢性疼痛的发生率。最可能的原因是肋间神经损伤，尽管其确切机制尚不清楚。未来的研究需要详细检查手术技术。在此之前，需要充分告知患者开胸手术的这一后遗症。
