Palmitoylethanolamide for Post-operative Pain Prevention

Perioperative Use of Palmitoylethanolamide for Prevention of Chronic Postsurgical Pain in Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery.

Postsurgical pain becomes chronic when it lasts more then two months after surgery. A neurogenic or neuropathic pathogenesis is hypothesized for this event that reaches high rates after urologic and gynecologic surgeries.

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) binds to mast cells and regulates pro-inflammatory factors release, without adverse events.

The investigators assume that perioperative administration of PEA can reduce chronic postsurgical pain incidence of patients undergoing to urologic and gynecologic elective surgery.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients undergoing elective gynecological or urological surgical procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

• age < 18
• pregnancy or nursing
• pre-existing chronic pain
• severe hepatic or renal failure
• post-operative progression of local cancer disease
• post-operative infection or inflammation of surgical wound