Preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain in patients undergoing septoplasty

The aim of the study was to determine whether psychological variables such as preoperative anxiety could serve as predictors of the postoperative pain response.

Sixty consecutive patients with deviated nasal septum were evaluated in the pre- and postoperative periods. A questionnaire that included sociodemographic features was administered to patients. Preoperative anxiety was assessed by the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Index. The severity of pain was recorded with a ten-point Visual Analog Scale at the immediate postoperative period (baseline) and at postoperative hours 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24.

Sixty patients met the eligibility criteria for the study. Of the 60 patients (39 men and 21 women) whose charts were reviewed, the mean age was 30.9 ± 12.6 years for men and 32.8 ± 10.4 years for women. The mean State-Trait Anxiety Index score was 44.3 ± 7.5 (range 29-67). No significant relationship was found between the patients' self-reports of postoperative pain and sociodemographic variables such as age and educational status. Men and women showed significant differences with respect to pain in the immediate and late postoperative periods. Correlation tests identified a significant relationship between patients' preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain in both the immediate and late periods.

The results of this study suggest that early interventions to minimize the preoperative anxiety stress response may affect the postoperative pain response.