Evaluation of Surgical Fear Level and Postoperative Consequences in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between surgical fear level and postoperative pain, nausea–vomiting, and sleep quality in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Methods: The data for the descriptive and cross-sectional study were collected using the Descriptive Information Form, Surgical Fear Questionnaire, Visual Analog Scale, Rhodes Index of Nausea Vomiting and Retching, and Richard-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire. The study was conducted with 105 patients. The extent of the relationship between the predictors was evaluated through stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. Results: Preoperative surgical fear was determined as an effective factor in the severity of pain and sleep quality at the postoperative fourth hour. Concerning the increase of the severity of pain at the 12th and 24th hours, body mass index and accompanying comorbidities, postoperative nausea–vomiting, presence of chronic disease among the complaints, and age were effective factors. Pre-hospitalization sleep quality and comorbidity status of the patients were determined as predictors of postoperative sleep quality. Conclusions: Surgical fear of the patients was determined to increase the fourth-hour pain severity and decrease postoperative sleep quality. Some characteristics of the patients were associated with an increase in postoperative pain and nausea–vomiting symptoms and a decrease in sleep quality.