Many patients experience chronic pain after thoracic surgery and this is caused by nerve damage during surgery. Changes in skin sensation (dysaesthesia) is typically associated with chronic nerve pain.

We hypothesise that thoracic surgery causes sensory changes. Another hypothesis is that minimally invasive thoracic surgery using video cameras results in less nerve damage and so a smaller area of altered skin sensation, when compared to the traditional method of chest surgery using a large surgical incision. A final hypothesis is that the extent of nerve damage during surgery is associated with the severity of pain early after surgery.

This study is designed to compare the total areas of sensory changes after thoracic surgery on the operated side of the chest with that on the non-operated side of the chest. We also aim to identify the type, pattern, location and area of sensory changes associated with thoracic surgery, comparing the operated with the non-operated side of the chest. In addition, we aim to compare the total area of sensory changes between the traditional method of chest surgery and the minimally invasive method of chest surgery. We would also like to determine whether the severity of pain early after surgery is associated with the area of sensory changes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients 18 years old or older admitted for elective thoracic surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• Emergency thoracic surgery
• Thoracic surgery involving sternotomy
• Damage to the spinal cord and/ or intercostal nerves prior to surgery
• Neurological diseases that may alter the skin sensation to the chest wall such as multiple sclerosis and neuropathies, previous surgery of chest wall, a history of chronic pain

Patients will be identified from the thoracic surgery operative list at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

The data will be shared if contacted by email.

One year after completion of study.