The Greek E-Journal of Perioperative Medicine 2015; 13 (b): 71-81 (ISSN 1109-6888) www.e-journal.gr/ Ε εδ εεετ Ιατ 2015; 13(b): 71-81 (ISSN 1109-6888) www.e-journal.gr/ 71 ©2015 Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Medicine of Northern Greece ©2015ΕταεαΑασσααΕτατΙατΒεΕδ 1 Pain Clinic, Intensive Care Unit, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece 2 Thoracic Surgery Department, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece Nursing care plan in post-thoracotomy pain management. A brief review. Siopi V 1 , Valasiou I 1 , Papageorgiou E 1 , PhD, Veliki N 1 , PhD, Tzinevi M 1 , Rallis Th 2 , Gogakos A.S 2 , Paliouras D 2 , PhD, Asteriou Ch 2 , PhD, Anisoglou S 1 , PhD, Barbetakis N 2 , PhD. ABSTRACT Nursing care plan in post-thoracotomy pain management. A brief review. Siopi V, Valasiou I, Papageorgiou E, Veliki N, Tzinevi M, Rallis Th, Gogakos A.S, Paliouras D, Asteriou Ch, Anisoglou S, Barbetakis N. The objective of postoperative pain management after thoracotomy is the prevention of postopera- tive complications, the reduction of the length of hospital stay, the increase of the patient’s satisfac- tion and finally the resumption of the daily living’s normal activities. Thoracic surgery affects postoperative respiratory function, along with a high risk of developing postoperative pulmonary complications. Pain is a subjective experience. Postoperative pain man- agement in thoracic surgery patients should be individually applied, based on a well-organized health care system that emphasizes consistent nursing education regarding proper pain management techniques, with an effective communication between the patient and members of the existing mul- tidisciplinary team, especially the nursing staff. INTRODUCTION The negative effect of pain on quality of life emphasizes the importance of pain relief. In- ternational health organizations assume pain as a symptom of a disease, and point out its important role in determining prognosis of the disease 1,2 . The objective of postoperative pain manage- ment after thoracotomy is to prevent postoper- ative complications, reduce the length of hos- pital stay, increase patient satisfaction and fi- nally to help patients to resume the normal ac- tivities of daily living. Thoracic surgery im-