Persistant Post-mastectomy Pain in Breast Cancer : Incidence and Risk Factors

Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome (PMPS) is a major complication of breast surgery responsible for depression and disability. The project consists of a prospective cohort on patients going for oncological breast surgery at National Institute of Oncology of Rabat. Chronic postoperative pain (CPP) remains a disturbing and obscure clinical problem, which could last for more than 3 months after surgery. The aim of present study was to assess the prevalence of CPP, investigate its impact on life quality and explore its potential risk factors. After informed consent was signed, patients receiving surgery under general anesthesia in Peking Union Medical College Hospital and other medical centers participating in this study during 2018 will be included. Patients' preoperative information will be collected from medical record, including basic demographic data, primary disease and previous chronic diseases. Intraoperative information will be obtained from anesthesia record, including surgical scope, duration, length and location of incisions and blood loss. Acute pain will be evaluated in the ward of the department of surgery, when an app will be installed on patients' mobile phones. Our long-term postoperative follow-up would be performed by sending out survey questionnaires via this app in the 4th, 8th, 16th, 32th, and 48th weeks after surgery. The survey covers questions regarding the intensity, characteristic, location and impact on daily activities of CPP. Information regarding treatment of CPP will also be collected, if any. All the data gained will be summarized in our database and analyzed.