Title: Potential association with gut microbiome diversity and persistent postoperative pain in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery.

Investigating team: Khaled Masaud, Siobhain O’Mahony, Mark Corrigan, James O'Leary, George Shorten

Background: Persistent post-surgical pain is defined as that which continues after a surgical operation in a significant form for at least three months (and is not related to pre-existing painful conditions). Persistent post-surgical pain is a common, under-recognized and important clinical problem which affects millions of patients worldwide. It results from a series of neuroplastic changes associated most commonly with peripheral nerve injury at the time of surgery. Patients undergoing breast cancer surgery often experience moderate pain in the days after their surgery and many as 80% (of those whose surgery includes axillary clearance of lymph nodes) experience PPSP.

Objective: 

To determine the association (if any) between gut microbiome composition and diversity 5, 6 and the incidence and magnitude of PPSP

Secondary objectives are:

To determine associations (if any) between relative abundance of microbial taxa and
i. psychological and mood parameters known to influence pain perception
ii. incidence and magnitude of PPSP.

Preliminary Results: Pending

Current status: Preparing manuscript