title: Sleep/wake cycle of women submitted to elective gynecological surgery with a one-day hospital stay.
abstract: The aim of this descriptive study was to compare preoperative and post-operative sleep/wake cycle (SWC) patterns of 22 women undergoing elective surgery, with up to one day of hospitalization. The study was approved by the local Review Board. Voluntary women (average age 39 +/- 9) filled out a Sleep Journal for 23 consecutive days, before and after the surgery (46 days total). Data were analyzed with Wilcoxon's matched-pairs test. The findings showed slight and transitory SWC changes (increased latency, reduced efficiency and later wake-up time) after the surgery. Nevertheless, sleep quality was improved and there was a fast return to the SWC patterns observed before the intervention, perhaps due to the early exposition to daily routine, e.g. the environmental clues that are important to rhythmic synchronization.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences, Brazil. mcriszaros@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zaros
authors.forename: Maria Filomena
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ceolim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012890:Sleep; D014851:Wakefulness