The effect of preoperative anxiety on post operative pain

Pages: 622-624
Sanjeev Kumar (Department of Anaesthesiology, SGT Medical College, Budhera Gurgaon, Haryana)

There is an increasing number of patients undergoing surgery. However postoperative pain is considered to be an important factor delaying the discharge of the patients, with preoperative anxiety being considered as an important factor correlated with post operative pain. The present study was conducted to find out the correlation between preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain. 80 female subjects undergoing hysterectomy were divided into 3 groups based on preoperative anxiety. Pain perception was assessed using VAS at 5hrs and 8hrs after surgery. The present study established that higher preoperative anxiety was positively correlated with increased post operative pain. Thus prediction of post operative pain based on preoperative anxiety level require better tailored preoperative counseling and perioperative management improving patient outcome.