Fatigue and anxiety in surgical patients

In 15 patients fatigue was assessed by an arbitrary scale, anxiety by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and concentration by various concentration tests before and 10 and 30 days after uncomplicated elective, abdominal surgery. Preoperatively, fatigue correlated to state-anxiety (r = 0.68) and trait-anxiety (r = 0.66). From pre- to postoperatively, fatigue had increased on both day 10 and day 30. State-anxiety decreased, while trait-anxiety was unchanged. Increase in fatigue 30 days after surgery correlated to increased state-anxiety (r = 0.65), but not significantly to trait-anxiety (r = 0.38). No correlation was found between increase in fatigue 30 days after surgery and the preoperative degree of state- and trait-anxiety, (r = -0.09, r = -0.29); respectively. Neither pre- nor postoperative performance during concentration tests correlated to postoperative fatigue. It is concluded that preoperative anxiety may not be decisive for the development of postoperative fatigue. Postoperative fatigue may be considered a symptom of deterioration in cardiovascular function, neuro-muscular performance and nutritional status rather than psychological factors.