The Prevalence of Chronic Pain and Continued Opioid Use After Cardiac Surgery

The Prevalence of Chronic Pain and Continued Opioid Use After Cardiac

The authors propose to evaluate the prevalence of chronic post-operative pain (CPOP) and continued opioid use in the population that has undergone cardiac surgery at the Montreal Heart Institute. In addition, the authors wish to evaluate the presence of known risk factors for CPOP in this population.

This study will use a 15-minute telephone survey to prospectively evaluate the prevalence and intensity of chronic pain 6 months and 1 year after cardiac surgery. Data on the level of post-operative pain experienced on days 1 to 4, at the time of surgery, as well as opioid consumption, adjuvant pain treatments and other variables of interest that are currently recorded prospectively at time of surgery will be culled from patient charts. Additionally, the possibility of continued opioid use by patients at 6 months post-surgery will be evaluated.

Inclusion Criteria:

All patients who have surgery at the Montreal Heart Institute between October 1 2017 and October 1 2018 will be eligible for selection.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients who have declined to be contacted after surgery as noted on the MHI form "Consent for futur projects".

All patients who accepted to be contacted but decline to participate when contacted after their surgery.

Patients who cannot be reached by phone. Patients who cannot speak French