Chronic pain following donor nephrectomy – A study of the incidence, nature and impact of chronic post-nephrectomy pain

Abstract Chronic pain is a consequence of some types of surgery, but its incidence following open donor nephrectomy has never been investigated. We surveyed 123 patients who underwent open donor nephrectomy at our institution over a 10-year period, to determine the incidence, severity and nature of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of pain 2010-08, Vol.14 (7), p.732-734
Main Authors: Owen, Margaret, Lorgelly, Paula, Serpell, Mick
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activities of Daily Living
Adult
Anesthesia & Perioperative Care
Chronic Disease - epidemiology
Chronic pain
Donor nephrectomy
Health Surveys
Humans
Incidence
Kidney Transplantation - adverse effects
Living Donors
Nephrectomy - adverse effects
Neuropathic pain
Organ donation
Pain Measurement
Pain Medicine
Pain, Postoperative - epidemiology
Pain, Postoperative - etiology
Post-surgical pain
Quality of Life
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Chronic pain is a consequence of some types of surgery, but its incidence following open donor nephrectomy has never been investigated. We surveyed 123 patients who underwent open donor nephrectomy at our institution over a 10-year period, to determine the incidence, severity and nature of chronic pain and its effect on quality of life. Of the 81 (66%) responders, 27 (33%) had experienced prolonged pain, and 21 (26%) still had chronic pain related to their surgery. The overall incidence of severe, disabling pain (visual analogue score ⩾7) was 12% and of neuropathic pain was 14%. The average loss in quality adjusted life years (QALYs) was 1.053 for chronic pain sufferers, but was 1.851 for those who suffered specifically from neuropathic pain. Only one third of patients with chronic pain were receiving any treatment, and none were receiving neuropathic adjuvants or specialist pain management interventions. We conclude that the incidence of chronic pain following donor nephrectomy is underestimated and therefore under managed. Given the voluntary and altruistic nature of this procedure, and the enormous personal and social benefits which result from successful donor transplantation, those involved with the preparation and post-operative management should be more aware of, and actively question donors about chronic pain so that diagnosis and appropriate therapy can be commenced as early as possible.
ISSN:1090-3801
1532-2149
DOI:10.1016/j.ejpain.2009.11.013