Persistent and acute postoperative pain after cardiac surgery with anterolateral thoracotomy or median sternotomy: A prospective observational study.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to compare the association between cardiac surgical approach (thoracotomy vs. sternotomy) and incidence of persistent postoperative pain at 3 months. Secondary objectives were the incidence and intensity of persistent pain at 6 and 12 months, acute postoperative pain, analgesic requirement and its side effects.