Prevalence and Risk Factors for Chronic Post-Surgical Pain Following Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery : The EVATHO Prospective Bicentric Cohort Study.

Study of the Prevalence of Chronic Postoperative Pain After Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery: A Bicentric Cohort Study

Chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP) remains a common complication after thoracic surgery and may significantly impair patients' quality of life. Although the widespread adoption of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has reduced surgical trauma and improved postoperative recovery, a substantial proportion of patients still develop persistent pain.

The EVATHO study is a multicenter prospective observational cohort designed to determine the prevalence of CPSP three months after VATS and to identify perioperative factors associated with its development. Adult patients undergoing thoracic surgery by VATS at Montpellier and Nice University Hospitals will be prospectively enrolled.

Pain intensity, neuropathic pain characteristics, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and analgesic consumption will be assessed using validated questionnaires during the perioperative period and at 1 and 3 months after surgery. The results of this study may help identify patients at increased risk of CPSP and improve perioperative pain management strategies following thoracic surgery.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for thoracic surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age <18 years
• Adults under legal protection or unable to provide informed non-opposition
• Patients unable to understand or complete the study questionnaires
• Patients not affiliated with a French health insurance scheme.
• Adults under legal protection, including judicial safeguard, guardianship, or curatorship.
• Participation in another clinical study involving an ongoing exclusion period.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women.