Acute and Chronic Pain, Especially Neuropathic Pain, After Thoracotomy and Continuous Application of Ketamine.

Effects of Prophylactic Administration of Ketamine on Acute and Chronic Pain After Thoracotomy for Lung Cancer, a Double Blind Randomised Trial.

Chronic Pain, especially neuropathic pain, are adverse events after posterolateral thoracotomy for lung resection. The continuous application of ketamine may have a prophylactic effect and helps to prevent chronic pain. The investigators record the incidence and severity of acute pain and neuropathic pain during a seven day period after thoracotomy as well as the incidence of chronic pain and neuropathic pain after one and three month period. Parallel Group design, comparing one Group with a continuous application (24 hours) of ketamine against a Placebo Group.

Inclusion Criteria:

• posterolateral thoracotomy for lung parenchyma resection
• informed consent
• ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) Status I-III

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of chronic pain
• history of neuropathic pain
• pregnancy or breastfeeding
• participation in another trial
• hypersensitivity for ketamine
• medication with can influence neuropathic pain (gabapentin, clonazepam)
• history of neurological or behavioral illness
• history of alcohol abuse
• history of chemotherapy or radiation
• opioid medication