Preoperative Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Thoracic Surgery

Abstract

BACKGROUND Preoperative anxiety is closely associated with poor surgical outcomes and potential complications. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors affecting the level of anxiety in patients who were candidates for thoracic surgery. METHODS A prospective study was conducted among 100 patients who would undergo thoracic surgery under general anaesthesia for both malignant and benign diseases. Data concerning age, gender, educational status, length of preoperative hospital stay, past surgical history and indication of the proposed operation were collected, and preoperative anxiety was graded via State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) for each patient. RESULTS Among a total of 65 male and 35 female patients, mean age was 54.1 +/- 11.5 years. High level of preoperative anxiety was presented in 56% of the patients. Statistical analysis revealed that the higher level of state anxiety was associated with male sex, young age, existence of past surgical history, benign disease and high educational status (p<0.05); whereas, longer length of preoperative hospital stay was not related with a significant difference in the state anxiety level (p>0.005). CONCLUSIONS Regarding the conflicting findings obtained from recent reports and this study, individual assessment of each surgical patient is necessary to perform a valid risk analysis of preoperative anxiety.