DOI: 10.11648/j.ijpr.20260203.14 ISSN: 3070-1562

Expert Consensus on Perioperative Pain Management for Lung Cancer (2026 Edition)

Zhi Xiuyi, Chen Chun, Fan Bifa, He Jianxing
Show PDF Cite
Perioperative pain is highly prevalent after lung cancer surgery and may impair pulmonary recovery, delay mobilization, increase complications, and contribute to chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP). This 2026 expert consensus was developed to standardize perioperative pain management for patients undergoing lung cancer surgery and to support enhanced recovery and long-term quality of life. A multidisciplinary panel of thoracic surgeons, pain physicians, anesthesiologists, oncologists, pharmacists, psychologists/psychiatrists, and nurses formulated the recommendations through systematic evidence retrieval, evidence appraisal using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework, two rounds of modified Delphi consultation, and expert meetings. The final document contains 14 recommendations covering risk-factor identification, dynamic pain assessment, multimodal and individualized analgesia, preemptive analgesia, surgical and anesthetic prevention strategies, postoperative rehabilitation, pharmacological therapy, regional nerve blocks, epidural or patient-controlled analgesia, neuromodulation, cognitive behavioral therapy, physical therapy, traditional Chinese medicine, chest-tube/tubeless strategies, perioperative nursing, and CPSP diagnosis and treatment. The consensus emphasizes opioid-sparing regimens, selection of minimally invasive surgical approaches where appropriate, early removal or avoidance of chest tubes in selected patients, and timely management of neuropathic pain components. By integrating evidence-based medicine with Chinese clinical practice, this consensus provides practical guidance for multidisciplinary teams to relieve pain, reduce adverse events, promote functional recovery, and improve postoperative quality of life in patients with lung cancer.

More from our Archive