Evaluation of patients' discomfort regarding regional anesthesia: 8AP6‐7

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