The Effect of Perioperative Ketamine on Acute and Chronic Pain After Major Back Surgery
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2013-03-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
After a surgical operation, patients may suffer from chronic pain. Ketamine, a well known
anesthetic acts on receptors in the spine (NMDA receptors), which are implied in the
occurrence of chronic pain. The mechanism is called central sensation. It is known that
Ketamine reduces immediate postoperative pain, but its effectiveness in the prevention of the
chronic pain is still unknown. The investigators study will follow patients until one year
after operation for the occurrence of chronic pain. The investigators hypothesis is that
Ketamine reduces significantly chronic postoperative pain after major back surgery and
improves patient outcome.
There may be important inter-individual differences how persons react on a drug. These
differences are partly determined by the genes of each individual. The investigators study
includes therefore a genetic analysis.
Psychological and social factors also influence the perception of pain. It is still not well
understood who these "psychosocial factors" determine the appearance and perception of
chronic pain. In the investigators study the investigators will therefore study these factors
by questionnaires.