Chronic Post Surgical Pain-Cardiac

Cardiovascular diseases pose a significant global health concern, particularly among the elderly population, leading to a surge in surgical interventions. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) protocols, specifically ERAS® Cardiac, target improved perioperative pain management to optimize patient outcomes. Effective pain control aims to alleviate acute discomfort, prevent chronic pain development, facilitate early mobilization, reduce hospital stays, and enhance patient satisfaction and functional recovery. While pain intensity peaks within the initial days following cardiac surgery and gradually subsides, inadequate acute pain management can predispose patients to chronic pain, impairing their quality of life. Multimodal opioid-sparing analgesia strategies are recommended, with recent advancements in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia techniques showing promise in enhancing acute pain relief and reducing opioid consumption, particularly through truncal fascial plane blocks and parasternal blocks. However, the impact of these techniques on chronic postsurgical pain remains incompletely understood. This multicenter study aims to investigate the incidence of chronic postsurgical pain following cardiac surgery, exploring the influence of various factors and their implications on patients' quality of life.