The impact of preoperative anxiety on pain and analgesia consumption in women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy with general anesthesia and spinal anesthesia.

OBJECTIVES To assess the impact of preoperative anxiety on pain and analgesic consumption in patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy (VH) with general and spinal anesthesia. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 200 participants, including 100 undergoing vaginal hysterectomy with general anesthesia (group 1) and 100 with spinal anesthesia (group 2), were enrolled. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used for the postoperative pain intensity. RESULTS The 1st hour, 6th hour, 12th hour, and 18th hour VAS scores were higher in vaginal hysterectomy with general anesthesia than in vaginal hysterectomy with spinal anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS Although participants undergoing VH with spinal anesthesia (preoperative state anxiety inventory score > 45) had lower pain intensity scores in the first 18 hours compared to those undergoing VH with general anesthesia, their postoperative analgesic requirements were similar.