Background: General anesthetics (GA) are widely used in surgical procedures due to their effectiveness and broad effects on the central nervous system. Although complications are generally limited, certain patient populations—particularly individuals with central sensitization syndromes (CSS)—may be more likely to experience adverse postoperative outcomes. CSS is characterized by heightened central nervous system responsiveness to stimuli that would not normally elicit pain, as well as nociceptive signaling occurring without external input. This review explored whether patients with CSS experience increased postoperative pain, longer recovery times, and higher analgesic requirements.
Methods: Eleven studies were reviewed evaluating postoperative outcomes in patients with a diagnosed CSS who underwent surgery with GA. Studies were excluded if they did not specify the use of GA, if patients lacked a confirmed CSS diagnosis, or if they did not report a Central Sensitization Inventory score ≥ 40. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Embase (2005–2025) using terms related to central sensitization, general anesthesia, and surgery. All studies were screened to ensure inclusion and exclusion criteria were met.
Results: Across the included studies, patients with CSS experienced higher postoperative pain, greater and more prolonged analgesic use—including opioids—and lower postoperative satisfaction compared with patients without CSS. These findings suggest a meaningful association between CSS and worse postoperative outcomes. Given these patterns, future research should focus on improving perioperative care, including enhanced screening, diagnostic practices, and tailored interventions for patients with CSS. Limitations include the review’s secondary nature and the exclusion of studies that did not specify anesthesia type or clearly define CSS.
Methods: Eleven studies were reviewed evaluating postoperative outcomes in patients with a diagnosed CSS who underwent surgery with GA. Studies were excluded if they did not specify the use of GA, if patients lacked a confirmed CSS diagnosis, or if they did not report a Central Sensitization Inventory score ≥ 40. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Embase (2005–2025) using terms related to central sensitization, general anesthesia, and surgery. All studies were screened to ensure inclusion and exclusion criteria were met.
Results: Across the included studies, patients with CSS experienced higher postoperative pain, greater and more prolonged analgesic use—including opioids—and lower postoperative satisfaction compared with patients without CSS. These findings suggest a meaningful association between CSS and worse postoperative outcomes. Given these patterns, future research should focus on improving perioperative care, including enhanced screening, diagnostic practices, and tailored interventions for patients with CSS. Limitations include the review’s secondary nature and the exclusion of studies that did not specify anesthesia type or clearly define CSS.