Objective: To investigate the incidence of chronic postoperative pain after different types of breast surgery, and investigate the risk factors associated with chronic postoperative pain.
Study design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine, Ibnisina Hospital, from January to May 2021.
Methodology: Postoperative chronic pain syndrome and risk factors were investigated in 200 female patients who underwent breast surgery for different reasons. The relationships between preoperative chronic pain, analgesic drug use, number of previous surgeries, anxiety, depression levels, lifestyle, age, height, body mass index, education level, postoperative acute pain, and postoperative sixth-month pain level were statistically analysed.
Results: Chronic postoperative pain was observed at a rate of 30%. Postmastectomy syndrome was observed with a rate of 31.6%. A statistically significant relationship was found between preoperative chronic pain, smoking, analgesic use, and postoperative chronic pain (p<0.001). Total mastectomy, mastectomy and simultaneous reconstructive surgery, axillary surgery were associated with chronic pain (p<0.001). A strong correlation was observed between preoperative anxiety (r=0.758, p<0.001), depression (r=0.773, p<0.001), and chronic pain.
Conclusion: Chronic postoperative pain and postmastectomy pain syndrome are found in almost one-third of the operated patients mainly related to preoperative smoking, analgesic use, breast cancer, and psychological state.
Key words: Chronic pain, Breast neoplasms, Mastectomy, Anxiety, Depression.