Preoperative Anxiety Impact on Anesthetic and Analgesic Use

Abstract

Anxiety is a complex emotional state that can arise from the anticipation of a threatening event, and preoperative anxiety is a common experience among adult patients undergoing surgery. In adult patients, the incidence of preoperative anxiety varies widely across different surgical groups, and it can result in a variety of psychophysiological responses and problems. Despite its negative impact, preoperative anxiety often receives insufficient attention in clinical practice. To improve pain management strategies, there is a need for further research on personalized approaches that take into account various factors that contribute to an individual’s pain experience. These personalized approaches could involve developing tools to identify individuals who are more likely to experience increased pain and may require additional analgesia. To address this, regular assessments of anxiety levels should be conducted during preoperative visits, and counseling should be provided to patients with high levels of anxiety. Identifying and addressing preoperative anxiety in a timely manner can help reduce its incidence and potential consequences.

Assessment of Preoperative Anxiety and Influencing Factors in Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study

“…Several studies have demonstrated that preoperative education significantly reduces perioperative anxiety and postoperative pain [ 31 , 32 , 33 ]. Along with education, anxiolytic interventions such as pharmacological therapies (benzodiazepines, sympatholytics, anti-epileptics, and antidepressants) and other alternative therapies (aromatherapy, music therapy, and acupuncture) should also be considered [ 10 ].…”

“…The STAI questionnaire is considered the gold standard tool for measuring state and trait anxieties owing to its well-established validity and reliability [10,21]. The STAI-KYZ is a translated version of the STAI-Y (Spielberger, 1983), which has been rebalanced by a number of positive and negative questions.…”

“…These effects are particularly pronounced in the elderly [ 1 ]. Furthermore, perioperative anxiety can increase postoperative pain and the need for intraoperative anesthetics and postoperative analgesics [ 9 , 10 ]. One study found that higher trait anxiety was associated with an increased requirement for intravenous propofol during both anesthetic induction and maintenance [ 9 ].…”

“…One study found that higher trait anxiety was associated with an increased requirement for intravenous propofol during both anesthetic induction and maintenance [ 9 ]. This may be due to the confounding effect of anxiety on the autonomic nervous system [ 10 ]. Previous research has indicated that managing perioperative anxiety can reduce postoperative pain and analgesic requirements [ 11 ].…”