Preoperative emotional states in patients with breast cancer and postoperative pain.
BACKGROUND
The present study examined the relationship between psychological variables, including anxiety, depression, and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) use in patients who underwent radical mastectomy.


METHODS
Ninety-nine ASA I-II women with breast cancer between 18 and 60 years scheduled for modified radical mastectomy completed the state scale of the state-trait anxiety inventory and the Beck depression inventory before the day of surgery. Standard general anesthesia, surgery, and IV-PCA therapy was conducted. Postoperative ratings of pain intensity, opioid consumption and satisfaction with PCA were recorded for the first 24 h on the ward. The degree of pain intensity was evaluated by a visual analog scale (VAS, 1-10). Satisfaction with pain control was reported using an five-point scale from 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied).


RESULTS
The pain intensity, total analgesic consumption and dose/demand ratio were significantly related to preoperative anxiety and depression (P<0.05). Degree of dissatisfaction with PCA was significantly correlated with preoperative anxiety and depression (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with higher anxiety and depression levels had higher postoperative pain and analgesic requirements in this study.
Ozalp
G
G
Department of Anesthesiology, Ankara Oncology Hospital, Turkey. gulcinozalp@yahoo.com
Sarioglu
R
R
Tuncel
G
G
Aslan
K
K
Kadiogullari
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015411:Mastectomy, Modified Radical / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine