The effect of preoperative state-Trait anxiety level and anesthesia technique on postoperative nausea and vomiting

Abstract

Objective: It was aimed to determine the effect of preoperative anxiety levels and anesthesia of the patients on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Methods: This study was a cross sectional research. It was conducted with 323 patients at a state hospital between April-June 2022. Data were collected with Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics Form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyze the data. Results: The mean age of the patients were 50.5 ± 17.3 years, and 18.9% of them were treated in the general surgery ward. There was a significant difference in the development of PONV in the Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T) severe anxiety group compared to the mild anxiety group (p=0.031) and in the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) moderate anxiety group compared to the mild anxiety group (p=0.012). When anesthetic type was included in the model, there was a significant difference in the development of PONV between the STAI-S moderate and mild anxiety groups (p=0.006). State Anxiety Inventory scores were found to be effective in the group that received general and spinal anesthesia (p=0.013). Postoperative nausea and vomiting development was 41.2% in the moderate anxiety group and 21.7% in the mild anxiety group in the general and spinal anesthesia group. Conclusion: It was determined that undergoing general or spinal anesthesia increases the risk of developing PONV as the STAI-S score increases. © 2024 Anestezi Dergisi. All rights reserved.