A comparative study to assess preoperative anxiety in obstetric patients undergoing elective or emergency cesarean section

Abstract

Background: A common response to stress is anxiety which is present in patients undergoing surgery. As compared to general surgical population, a higher level of preoperative anxiety has been reported in obstetric patients. The present study was conducted to assess and compare preoperative anxiety in obstetric patients undergoing elective or emergency cesarean section.

Methodology: A total of 200 obstetric patients, having physical status II according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, undergoing elective (n=100) or emergency [Grade 2] (n=100) cesarean section were included in the study. State version of state trait anxiety inventory scale (S-STAI) and Visual analogue scale for anxiety (VAS-A) were used as study tools.

Results: A high level of anxiety in patients undergoing emergency cesarean section as compared to elective patients [S- STAI (67.29 ± 8.51 vs 48.35 ± 10.29) and VAS –A (73.61 ± 5.31 vs 52.43 ± 4.16)] was observed in present study, the difference found to be statistically highly significant (p < 0.001). Overall 110 (55%) patients had anxiety. Out of these 40 patients (40%) belonged to elective group and 70 patients (70%) were of emergency group. Anxious patients had higher education level. The difference in hemodynamic parameters was highly statistically significant between the two groups.

Conclusion: Every patient requiring surgery whether elective or emergency should be assessed for the presence of anxiety in their routine preoperative anesthesia assessment and the patients found to have a high level of anxiety should be scheduled for an additional counselling session .