The effects of preoperative anxiety on the postanesthetic period and the general ward care period were measured in 34 patients who had undergone an operation for acute appendicitis. The anxiety score was measured using the self reported form of
the
Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI). Women showed higher anxiety scores than men. The preoperative state anxiety score was not associated with the groups based on religion, marital status, previous surgical experience or past
admission
history. There was no correlation between the patient's age and preoperative state anxiety scores. In the preoperative condition, a significant correlation was observed between the trait and the state preoperative anxiety scores(P=0.004;
correlation
coefficient=0.77). The greater the preoperative state anxiety score, the longer the postanesthetic recovery time(minutes) (correlation coefficient=0.30; P=0.04). The preoperative state anxiety scores showed significant correlation with the
activity, the
consciousness and the skin color of postanesthetic recovery evaluation variables (each others correlation coefficient(Cor)=0.37; P=0.02, Cor=0.34; P=0.04, Cor=0.38l O=0.04) but not with postoperative gas-out, defication time(hours) duration,
admission
day duration or complications. The preoperative state anxiety score correlated with postoperative pain. The authors suggest that the surgeon's efforts to decrease preoperative anxiety is helpful in the surgical treatment.
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