European Journal of Anaesthesiology: June 2013 - Volume 30 - Issue - p 133–133
Abstract
Background and Goal of Study: Regional anesthesia may cause physical
and psychological discomfort. 50% of patients scheduled for urologic procedures
undergo regional anesthesia, and their comfort represents a concern to
the anesthesiologist. This study aims to:
1. identify factors related to patients’ discomfort regarding regional
anesthesia(position for anesthesia and surgery procedures, puncture site
pain, room temperature, audio-visual perception, sensitive/motor blockade);
2. Evaluate patients’ satisfaction with anesthesia.
Materials and Methods: Af ter approval from the Hospital Ethics Committee
all patients over 18years old, scheduled for urologic surgery, understanding
Portuguese and anesthetized with spinal anesthesia were included. Patients
in day case surgery or with incomplete medical records were excluded. We
performed a questionnaire(with closed ended questions) in the first 24 hours
af ter surgery and consulted anesthesia records. We asked yes or no questions,
used a 1-10 scale to evaluate pain and a 1-4 scale to evaluate satisfaction.
Because there isn’t a valid questionnaire in the literature to evaluate what
we aimed to, we created one based on multiple articles1,2.
Results and Discussion: 50patients were included; mean age 65 years old
(min.32, max.89); 78% males and 70% ASAII. 75%denied discomfort during
positioning for back puncture and 58% referred cold during anesthesia
or surgery. One person was uncomfortable in the surgical position and no
one considered being awake uncomfortable; sensitive/motor blockade was
uncomfortable for 22%. Spinal was more painful than the venous puncture
for32%; for 50%venous puncture was more painful and for 18%pain was similar.
Patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the anesthetic technique and
would choose the same technique in the future in 98% of cases.
Conclusion: Although this questionnaire is not validated, it allowed us to understand
that cold during anesthesia/surgery is a problem for most patients
but this is easily solved. It also showed us that most patients are not uncomfortable
with positioning during procedures, being awake and not feeling the
legs.Interestingly only about one third of the patients thought that the back
puncture was more painful than the venous puncture. In general we consider
spinal anesthesia a good choice for these patients and we are satisfied that
patients don’t find it uncomfortable and are also satisfie