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Evaluation of Central Sensitization, Fear-Avoidance, and Pain-Pressure Threshold With Chronic Pain After Hysterectomy

Recruiting
Conditions
Anxiety Depression
Central Sensitisation
Hysterectomy
Chronic Pain
Interventions
Diagnostic Test: Pain-Pressure Threshold
Diagnostic Test: Mechanical Temporal Summation
Diagnostic Test: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
Diagnostic Test: Pain Catastrophizing Scale
Diagnostic Test: Central Sensitization Inventory
Diagnostic Test: Fear-Avoidance Component Score
Diagnostic Test: EQ-5D
Diagnostic Test: heart rate variability
Diagnostic Test: Anxiety, anticipated pain, anticipated analgesia
Diagnostic Test: State-trait anxiety inventory
Diagnostic Test: Beck's Depression Inventory
Registration Number
NCT04014829
Lead Sponsor
KK Women's and Children's Hospital
Brief Summary

Phase 1 (started in July 2019):

Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), Fear-Avoidance Components Scale (FACS), pain-pressure threshold are factors associated with chronic post-hysterectomy pain (CPHP), but a complete understanding on the development of CPHP is lacking. The study aims to identify clinically-relevant factors for CPHP that can be reliably assessed preoperatively.

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Phase 2 (anticipated start May 2022):

In addition to above factors, the association between heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, anxiety level, anticipated pain, and anticipated analgesia requirement with significant postoperative pain and CPHP will be investigated.

Detailed Description

Phase 1 (started in July 2019):

Chronic post-surgical pain is persistent pain after a surgical procedure that lasts for at least 3 months with other causes of pain excluded. It is a major socioeconomic and healthcare burden, and has impact on quality of life, physical function, emotional wellbeing and healthcare costs. In Singapore, hysterectomy for benign indications incurs 32% risk of developing chronic post-hysterectomy pain (CPHP). CPHP can occur around the surgical site, lower abdominal or pelvic region. Based on the pathophysiology underlying chronic pain, the investigators hypothesize that central sensitization, pain fear-avoidance and low pain-pressure threshold are plausible risk factors for CPHP. However, none of these three risk categories has been evaluated in patients with CPHP.

The investigators hypothesize that preoperatively abnormal central sensitization, pain fear-avoidance and decreased pain-pressure threshold are associated with increased risk of developing CPHP. The investigators will evaluate these risk factors preoperatively, and follow-up study participants at 4- and 6-months after hysterectomy, to assess the associations between these risk factors and CPHP.

The investigators will perform a prospective study of 236 patients undergoing abdominal/laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign indications, recruited at KK Hospital, Singapore. Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), Fear-Avoidance Components Scale (FACS), pain-pressure threshold and other known factors associated with CPHP will be assessed and recorded. Participants will be followed up at 4- and 6-months postoperatively to assess CPHP. Logistical regression analysis will be used to evaluate the associations between these factors and CPHP.

Knowledge of risk factors for CPHP will guide future studies to identify high-risk patients for implementation of individualized targeted therapies to optimize surgical outcomes of this patient group, and to confirm the hypothetical pathophysiological processes of chronic post-surgical pain similarly applicable to CPHP.

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Phase 2 (anticipated start May 2022):

Recent evidence suggests that changes in heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, anxiety level, anticipated pain, and anticipated analgesia requirement may be associated with significant postoperative pain (numerical pain score \>3 out of 10). The associations between HRV, anxiety level, anticipated pain, and anticipated analgesia requirement with significant pain or CPHP after hysterectomy have yet been investigated.

The investigators hypothesize that preoperative changes in HRV parameters, increased anxiety level, higher anticipated pain, and higher anticipated analgesia requirement are associated with increased risk of developing significant postoperative pain or CPHP. HRV, anxiety level, anticipated pain, and anticipated analgesia requirement will be assessed preoperatively, and follow-up study participants at 24 hours, 48 hours, 4- and 6-months after hysterectomy to assess their associations with significant postoperative pain and CPHP.

The investigators will perform a prospective study of 200 patients undergoing abdominal/laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign indications, recruited at KK Hospital, Singapore. HRV, anxiety level, anticipated pain, and anticipated analgesia requirement will be assessed and recorded. Participants will be followed up at 24 hours, 48 hours, 4- and 6-months postoperatively to assess significant pain and CPHP. Logistical regression analysis will be used to evaluate the associations between these factors and significant pain or CPHP.

Knowledge of risk factors for significant pain and CPHP will guide future studies to identify high-risk patients for implementation of individualized targeted therapies to optimize surgical outcomes of this patient group.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
436
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age 21 to 80 years old
  • American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Scale (ASA) I to III
  • Benign gynaecological indications for hysterectomy
  • Elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy
Exclusion Criteria
  • Vaginal hysterectomy
  • Uterine prolapse, endometriosis, malignant disease, or pelvic pain as main indication for surgery
  • History of drug dependence or recreational drug use
  • History of chronic pain syndrome
  • Current chronic daily treatment with corticosteroids, excluding inhaled steroids
  • Allergy to study drugs
  • Major heart surgery
  • Heart transplant
  • Pacemaker inserted
  • Baseline non-sinus cardiac rhythm

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Control group for CPHPHospital Anxiety and Depression ScalePreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Chronic Post-Hysterectomy Pain (CPHP)Central Sensitization InventoryPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Chronic Post-Hysterectomy Pain (CPHP)Beck's Depression InventoryPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Control group for CPHPPain-Pressure ThresholdPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Control group for CPHPMechanical Temporal SummationPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Chronic Post-Hysterectomy Pain (CPHP)Pain-Pressure ThresholdPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Chronic Post-Hysterectomy Pain (CPHP)Mechanical Temporal SummationPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Control group for CPHPEQ-5DPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Chronic Post-Hysterectomy Pain (CPHP)Fear-Avoidance Component ScorePreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Chronic Post-Hysterectomy Pain (CPHP)EQ-5DPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Control group for significant postoperative painFear-Avoidance Component ScorePreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Significant postoperative painPain Catastrophizing ScalePreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Significant postoperative painFear-Avoidance Component ScorePreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Control group for CPHPFear-Avoidance Component ScorePreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Control group for CPHPheart rate variabilityPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Control group for CPHPAnxiety, anticipated pain, anticipated analgesiaPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Chronic Post-Hysterectomy Pain (CPHP)Hospital Anxiety and Depression ScalePreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Chronic Post-Hysterectomy Pain (CPHP)Pain Catastrophizing ScalePreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Chronic Post-Hysterectomy Pain (CPHP)Anxiety, anticipated pain, anticipated analgesiaPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Control group for significant postoperative painMechanical Temporal SummationPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Control group for significant postoperative painHospital Anxiety and Depression ScalePreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Control group for CPHPPain Catastrophizing ScalePreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Control group for CPHPCentral Sensitization InventoryPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Control group for CPHPState-trait anxiety inventoryPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Control group for CPHPBeck's Depression InventoryPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Chronic Post-Hysterectomy Pain (CPHP)heart rate variabilityPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Control group for significant postoperative painheart rate variabilityPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Chronic Post-Hysterectomy Pain (CPHP)State-trait anxiety inventoryPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 4 and 6 months.
Control group for significant postoperative painPain-Pressure ThresholdPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Control group for significant postoperative painPain Catastrophizing ScalePreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Control group for significant postoperative painState-trait anxiety inventoryPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Significant postoperative painMechanical Temporal SummationPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Control group for significant postoperative painAnxiety, anticipated pain, anticipated analgesiaPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Control group for significant postoperative painBeck's Depression InventoryPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Significant postoperative painPain-Pressure ThresholdPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Control group for significant postoperative painCentral Sensitization InventoryPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Control group for significant postoperative painEQ-5DPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if no significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Significant postoperative painHospital Anxiety and Depression ScalePreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Significant postoperative painCentral Sensitization InventoryPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Significant postoperative painEQ-5DPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Significant postoperative painheart rate variabilityPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Significant postoperative painAnxiety, anticipated pain, anticipated analgesiaPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Significant postoperative painBeck's Depression InventoryPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Significant postoperative painState-trait anxiety inventoryPreoperative assessment with questionnaires, Mechanical Temporal Summation, Pain-Pressure Threshold, and heart rate variability. All patients will undergo elective abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients will be assigned to this group if significant pain is noted during the follow up evaluations at 24 and 48 hours.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Chronic Post-Hysterectomy Pain at 4 months4 months after hysterectomy

The primary outcome measure is the development of chronic post-hysterectomy pain, which is defined as pain that lasts for at least 3 months around the surgical site, lower abdominal, or pelvic region. This will be determined by phone or online assessment at 4 months after surgery, based on the protocol used by Brandsborg et al and the investigators' previous study.

Significant postoperative pain at 24 hours24 hours after hysterectomy

Numerical pain score (0: no pain; 100: worst pain imaginable) will be assessed at 24 hours after hysterectomy with patient moving from supine to sitting position.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Fear Avoidance Components Scale (FACS)2 months (upon recruitment until before surgery)

Assessment via the validated Fear Avoidance Components Scale (FACS) questionnaire prior to hysterectomy. Fear-avoidance is defined as the negative emotional perception of pain as terrorizing, which can generate catastrophic thoughts and vigilance. Pain fear-avoidance behavior can be assessed with the FACS, a 20-item questionnaire, with each item rated 0 to 5.

Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)2 months (upon recruitment until before surgery)

Assessment via the validated Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) questionnaire prior to hysterectomy. Pain catastrophizing refers to the negative thought processes patients have when they are exposed to pain or painful experiences. The PCS is a 13-item scale, with each item rated on a 5-point scale: 0 (Not at all) to 4 (all the time). It is broken into three subscales being magnification (0-12), rumination (0-16), and helplessness (0-24). A higher value in each subscale indicates a higher tendency to that subscale (worse outcome).

Quality of life via EQ-5D2 months (upon recruitment until before surgery)

Assessment via the validated EQ-5D questionnaire prior to hysterectomy. Lower preoperative quality of life has been associated with CPHP. EQ-5D is a validated questionnaire to assess generic health-related quality of life, consisting of two components: health state description and evaluation.

The description component measures health status via five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression, with each dimension rated according to severity using a three-level scale.

The evaluation component assesses overall health status using the visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS).

Pain-Pressure Threshold (PPT)2 months (upon recruitment until before surgery)

Assessment of Pain-pressure threshold (PPT) prior to hysterectomy. PPT is measured via an algometer in both groups. Pressure is applied 90 degree straight down force on the subject's right/left centre of the trapezius muscle using an algometer, with a speed of pressure \~ 1kgf/s. The above procedure is then repeated 3 times at each site (left/right) which is indicated on the pressure mark with each time having the reading recorded. When patient shows no response ≥ 6kgf, the threshold is recorded as 6kgf. The patient upon feeling pain will say stop or raise the hand to terminate the test. The mean value is obtained by averaging the readings and will then be recorded as the threshold estimate.

heart rate variabilityPreoperative and 24 hours after hysterectomy

Heart rate variability will be determined from the R-to-R intervals obtained from a 5 minute ECG recording with the patient supine.

Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI)2 months (upon recruitment until before surgery)

Assessment via the validated Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) questionnaire prior to hysterectomy. Central sensitization is defined as an increased responsiveness of nociceptive neurons in the central nervous system to normal or sub-threshold afferent stimuli. The CSI a 25-item questionnaire, with each item rated 0 to 4. A higher value indicates greater central sensitization, and a threshold score of 40 was shown to be associated with increased risk of chronic pain.

Mechanical Temporal Summation (MTS)2 months (upon recruitment until before surgery)

Assessment via Mechanical Temporal Summation before hysterectomy. A 180 gram von Frey filament is applied on the subject's forearm. Patient will then be asked to rate the pinprick pain score on a verbal rating scale, 0-100. Following this, 10 consecutive touches at random locations are applied with a 1 second interstimulus interval and within a 1 cm diameter circle. The patient will then be asked to rate the 10th pain score (0-100). The Mechanical Temporal Summation Score is obtained by the difference between the 11th pain score and the 1st pain score. If the score is greater than zero, the patient is implied to have presence of Mechanical Temporal Summation.

Anticipated analgesia requirementPreoperative

Patients will be asked to rate, using a categorical scale, their anticipated pain medication need ("On a scale of 0-5, with 0 being none at all, 1 being much less than average, 2 being less than average, 3 being average, 4 being more than average, and 5 being much more than average, how much pain medication do you anticipate needing after your upcoming surgery?")

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)2 months (upon recruitment until before surgery)

Assessment via the validated Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire prior to hysterectomy. Anxiety and depression are known risk factors associated with CPHP. HADS is a combination test for both anxiety and depression, is a 14-item questionnaire, with each item rated 0 to 3. HADS \> 8 has been associated specifically with increased CPHP.

Chronic Post-Hysterectomy Pain at 6 months6 months after hysterectomy

The primary outcome measure is the development of chronic post-hysterectomy pain, which is defined as pain that lasts for at least 3 months around the surgical site, lower abdominal, or pelvic region. This will be determined by phone or online assessment at 6 months after surgery, based on the protocol used by Brandsborg et al and the investigators' previous study.

Preoperative anxietyPreoperative

Patients will be asked to rate, using a 0-100 mm visual analog scale (VAS), their surgical anxiety level ("On a scale of 0-100, with 0 being not anxious at all through 100 being extremely anxious, how anxious are you about your upcoming surgery?")

State-Trait Anxiety Inventory2 months (upon recruitment until before surgery)

Assessment via State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire prior to hysterectomy, a standardized assessment of anxiety. This is a validated 40-item questionnaire, each item scored using a categorical scale from 1-4, with total score from 40 to 160.

Beck's Depression Inventory2 months (upon recruitment until before surgery)

Assessment via Beck's Depression Inventory questionnaire prior to hysterectomy, a standardized assessment of depressive symptoms.This is a validated 21-item questionnaire, each item scored using a categorical scale from 0-3, with total score from 0 to 63.

Anticipated painPreoperative

Patients will be asked to rate, using a 0-100 mm visual analog scale (VAS), their anticipated pain ("On a scale of 0-100, with 0 being no pain at all and 100 being pain as bad as you can imagine, how much pain do you anticipate experiencing after your upcoming surgery?")

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

KK Women's and Children's Hospital

🇸🇬

Singapore, Singapore

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