ReviewThe transition of acute postoperative pain to chronic pain: Part 1 - Risk factors for the development of postoperative acute persistent pain

SummaryMost patients will recover and return to their normal life after surgery, yet others will suffer chronic pain and long-lasting disabilities. Every chronic pain was once acute. The transition of acute perioperative pain to pathological chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP) is a complex and poorly understood process. Biological, psychological, and social-environmental factors and the known polymorphisms in human genes are all involved in perpetuating the pain. The Anaesthetist plays a pivotal role in the identification of factors that may lead to suboptimal pain control in the perioperative period. This review is based on an extensive search of the literature in relation to the topics covered without strict inclusion or exclusion criteria in the search strategy. The mechanisms of transition for acute perioperative to chronic post-surgical pain are explored. The identification of perioperative risk factors for developing CPSP is important as early interventions may prove beneficial.