The relationship between patient stress and the blood levels of acute phase proteins in rhinoplasty: the report of a prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to interrogate the relationship between patient stress and the levels of acute phase proteins (APP) in rhinoplasty.


METHODS
Twenty-six primary rhinoplasty patients were asked about the most stressful step of the rhinoplasty process, which were (1) deciding on the operation, (2) waiting in the preoperative room, (3) the first few postoperative hours, and (4) withdrawing the nasal pack, in order beginning from the most stressful one, preoperatively, and then postoperatively. C-reactive protein (CRP), alfa-1-acide glycoprotein (AAG), ceruloplasmin (CER), haptoglobulin (HPT), and alfa-1-antitrypsin (AT) have been studied in blood to detect a relation between the patient stress and the levels of APP.


RESULTS
Preoperatively, the "imagined" most stressful step was Step 4 (61.53%). Postoperatively, the "declared" most stressful step was Step 3 (50%). The blood levels of APP matched with the imagined rather than the declared stress.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient stress could be a preoperative issue, which should be eliminated preoperatively. Detailed description of the surgery and some pharmaceutics can inhibit the negative effects of the stressors and have a contribution to patient comfort.
Arslan
Emrah
E
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mersin University School of Medicine, Zeytinlibahce Cad., Mersin 33079, Turkey. arslane@mersin.edu.tr
Demirkan
Ferit
F
Unal
Sakir
S
Aksoy
Alper
A
Polat
Gurbuz
G
Kanik
Arzu
A
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000378:metabolism; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D006242:Haptoglobins; D009961:Orosomucoid; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002570:Ceruloplasmin