Original Research

Factors Associated with Postoperative Pain among Patients after Thoracic Surgery in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital of Punjab, Pakistan

Anum Arooj Tariq
Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Services Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
Muhammad Shoaib Nabi
Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Services Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
Zeeshan Sarwar
Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Services Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan

✉ Correspondence: Muhammad Shoaib Nabi Email: one111@hotmail.com

DOI https://doi.org/10.70302/jpsim.v7i2.2631
Volume: 7, Issue 2 Pages: 155–159 Published: 03 Jun 2026
Received: 04 Jan 2026 Revised: 12 Apr 2026 Accepted: 04 May 2026 Published Online: 03 Jun 2026

Abstract

Objective

To identify factors associated with postoperative pain severity among thoracic surgery patients at a tertiary care hospital in Punjab, Pakistan.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 284 patients who underwent thoracic surgery between January-September 2025. Pain was assessed using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively. Multiple logistic regression identified independent predictors of severe pain.

Results

Mean age was 52.3±14.6 years; 64.1% were male. Moderate to severe pain (VAS≥4) affected 68.3% at 24 hours, decreasing to 42.6% at 72 hours. Open thoracotomy (OR=4.23, 95% CI: 2.45-7.31, p<0.001), surgery duration >180 minutes (OR=2.89, p<0.001), current smoking (OR=2.34, p=0.001), and BMI≥30 kg/m² (OR=1.87, p=0.023) independently predicted severe pain. Epidural analgesia reduced severe pain risk by 69% (OR=0.31, p<0.001). Poor pain control was associated with increased respiratory complications (28.3% vs 12.1%, p<0.001) and prolonged hospitalization (8.4±2.3 vs 5.6±1.8 days, p<0.001).

Conclusion

Open thoracotomy, prolonged surgery, smoking, and obesity independently predict severe postoperative pain. Epidural analgesia and multimodal protocols can significantly improve outcomes in thoracic surgery patients.

Keywords
Postoperative pain thoracic surgery pain management epidural analgesia Visual Analog Scale Pakistan

How to Cite This Article

Tariq AA, Nabi MS, Sarwar Z. Factors Associated with Postoperative Pain among Patients after Thoracic Surgery in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital of Punjab, Pakistan. J Pak Soc Intern Med. 2026;7(2):155–159. doi:10.70302/jpsim.v7i2.2631

Conflict of Interest

All authors declare no competing interests.

Disclosed in accordance with ICMJE and COPE guidelines.

Funding

No specific funding was received for this research.

Funder information follows the Crossref Funder Registry standard.

References

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Reference list indexed for Google Scholar and ResearchGate. DOI links resolve via doi.org.

CC BY CC BY 4.0 This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. May be shared and adapted with attribution. © 2026 Journal of Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine.
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