Association between preoperative maternal anxiety and neonatal outcomes: a prospective observational study

Preoperative anxiety can be associated with poor postoperative clinical outcomes. We aimed to assess whether preoperative maternal anxiety level of obstetric patients scheduled for elective cesarean surgery has an effect on clinical outcome of the newborn.

A prospective observational study.

Operating room.

Sixty pregnant women with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1 and 2 scheduled for elective cesarean surgery were enrolled.

All patients received spinal anesthesia with hyperbaric bupivacaine 12.5mg.

We performed a State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire to evaluate preoperative maternal anxiety. We used the Apgar scoring system to assess the physical condition of the newborn. Hemodynamic measurements (heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure) were recorded at baseline, skin incision, childbirth, and 10, 15, and 30minutes after skin incision. The use of ephedrine, nausea, and vomiting were recorded as well.

Average preoperative maternal state anxiety score was 41.1±4.6, and trait anxiety score was 50.9±5.7. Average Apgar scores of newborns were 7.6±0.8 and 9.2±0.6, at first minute and fifth minute, respectively. We found no significant relationship between the anxiety scores and Apgar scores at first and fifth minute. Forty-two patients required ephedrine, 5 patients had nausea, and 5 patients had vomiting.

We concluded that there was no relationship between preoperative maternal anxiety scores and Apgar scores at the first and fifth minute.