Surgical sensation during caesarean section: a qualitative analysis.

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Obstetrics
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Caesarean section (CS) is a major surgery performed under regional anesthesia, leaving patients awake.
• This unique setting allows patients to perceive surgical sensations and their environment.
• Understanding the subjective surgical experience is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To descriptively assess the subjective surgical experience of patients during Caesarean section (CS) under regional anesthesia.
• To enhance understanding of patient perceptions and inform anxiety-reducing counseling strategies.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive study at a Canadian academic center.
• Semi-structured interviews with 20 patients within a week of CS.
• Thematic analysis of interview data and medical records.

Main Results:

• Nine themes identified: five on surgical sensation, four on peri-operative education.
• Patients commonly experienced pressure and movement sensations; pain was infrequent.
• Environmental factors (sounds, newborn interaction) influenced sensation perception.

Conclusions:

• Patients desire pre-operative counseling on potential sensations and continuous communication from anesthesiologists.
• Findings can guide informed patient discussions and future research.
• Improving communication and education can alleviate patient anxiety during CS.