A Retrospective Investigation of Neuraxial Anesthesia Rates for Elective Cesarean Delivery Before and During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Our hospital used to perform cesarean delivery under general anesthesia rather than neuraxial anesthesia, mostly because of patient refusal of members of the conservative Bedouin society. According to recommendations implemented by the Israeli Obstetric Anesthesia Society, which were implemented due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, we increased the rate of neuraxial anesthesia among deliveries. OBJECTIVES: To compare the rates of neuraxial anesthesia in our cesarean population before and during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. METHODS: We included consecutive women undergoing an elective cesarean delivery from two time periods: pre-SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (15 February 2019 to 14 April 2019) and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (15 February 2020 to 15 April 2020). We collected demographic data, details about cesarean delivery, and anesthesia complications. RESULTS: We included 413 parturients undergoing consecutive elective cesarean delivery identified during the study periods: 205 before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and 208 during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We found a statistically significant difference in neuraxial anesthesia rates between the groups: before the pandemic (92/205, 44.8%) and during (165/208, 79.3%; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that patient and provider education about neuraxial anesthesia can increase its utilization. The addition of a trained obstetric anesthesiologist to the team may have facilitated this transition.

Evaluation of factors associated with patient satisfaction and mood-state in regional anesthesia.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate patient satisfaction with a regional anesthesia procedure and factors associated with the mood state of those patients at the time. METHODS: The study was performed with 300 patients who underwent surgery under regional anesthesia. The patients were given a questionnaire while in the recovery room about the experience of undergoing regional anesthesia to determine patient satisfaction and mood state during the procedure. RESULTS: The overall level of satisfaction with regional anesthesia was 82.3%. The level of satisfaction was higher in the age group of 18-25 years, male gender, in patients who had a previous regional anesthesia experience, and in patients who were well informed about regional anesthesia in a preoperative anesthetic evaluation. There was a relationship between pain due to failed spinal anesthesia during surgery and dissatisfaction with regional anesthesia. Patients who were properly informed preoperatively mostly expressed the feeling of 'safe.' Patients who underwent urological interventions most often expressed the feeling of 'comfortable'. Patients underwent gynecological and obstetrical surgeries mostly expressed the feeling 'excited'. Patients who underwent general surgical procedures and patients who were not informed preoperatively about regional anesthesia most often reported feeling 'anxious.' CONCLUSION: Providing adequate preoperative information to the patient about regional anesthesia will increase overall satisfaction and will assure the patient feels safe during the perioperative period. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03476278.

General or regional? Exploring patients' anaesthetic preferences and perception of regional anaesthesia. / ¿General o regional? Preferencias anestésicas de los pacientes y su percepción sobre la anestesia regional.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Regional anaesthesia (RA) has gained popularity due to its numerous benefits and increasing safety. Yet, often patients refuse this procedure and prefer general anaesthesia (GA). This study aimed to investigate variables (demographic factors, safety perception of GA and RA, patients' fears, anxiety, and knowledge) related to patients' anaesthetic preference. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Participants were patients aged 18 years or more proposed to an anaesthesia appointment for preoperative assessment. Patients completed a written questionnaire before meeting the anaesthesiologist. The questionnaire asked about their preferences, fears and perceptions about RA. RESULTS: One hundred and 2patients agreed to participate. Mean age was 52.6±13.5 years, 57.8% were female and 44.5% had at least 12 years of education. Given the choice, 54.0% would prefer GA and 20.7% said they would refuse RA if proposed by the anaesthesiologist. Among patients who already experienced neuroaxial anaesthesia, 40.0% said they did not wish to repeat it. Patients who preferred GA over RA perceived GA to be safer than RA and expressed more anxiety towards being awake during surgery and more fear of feeling pain during surgery, of having back pain, and of needle puncture. Results also suggested that patients are unaware of RA's real risks and benefits. CONCLUSIONS: Knowing patients' fears is essential for the anaesthesiologist address their patients' needs. Anaesthesiologists should work on improving general population perspective and knowledge about RA.

Maternal perceptions of breastfeeding difficulty after caesarean section with regional anaesthesia: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Caesarean delivery rates have increased in Australia over the last decade creating new challenges for breastfeeding mothers and caregivers. The advantages of breastfeeding are well recognised, however breastfeeding problems are common. Review of the literature revealed limited qualitative research relating to the experience of women having difficulties breastfeeding after caesarean section under regional anaesthesia. This study aimed to fill that gap in the literature. METHODS: Participants were women referred to the hospital Breastfeeding Support Centre with difficulty initiating and establishing breastfeeding. The methodology employed was interpretive phenomenology and purposeful sampling. Data was analysed using van Manen's hermeneutical circular process. RESULTS: Themes identified included Unnatural birth, Natural instincts compromised, Helping mothers to mother and Sabotage and defeat. These themes elicited ten subthemes which were interpreted and reflected upon to reveal key findings. These findings included the emotional and physical effects of the delivery and anaesthetic, the lack of true skin to skin contact, separation of mother and baby, inconsistent information, inadequate support, unnecessary formula supplementation and feelings of failure. CONCLUSION: Key recommendations included increasing skin to skin contact after caesarean section to support the natural instincts of mother and baby, increasing education on possible effects of surgical delivery on breastfeeding and increasing postnatal breastfeeding support for this group of women. Broader issues of inadequate staffing and a changing postnatal dynamic reflecting increased post-surgical care need further exploration.

Patients' Views on Regional Anesthesia for Elective Unilateral Carotid Endarterectomy--A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) can be performed under general anesthesia (GA) or locoregional anesthesia (LA). However, the patients' views on the choice between GA and LA are currently poorly understood. We aimed at identifying the preoperative patient information needs, their role in decision-making, and influencing factors associated with LA and anxiety regarding surgery and anesthesia in CEA as a base for improving preoperative consultation and decision-making in the informed consent process. METHODS: Data were collected from consecutive patients undergoing unilateral elective CEA. Data on basic demographics, preoperative information needs, factors influencing decision-making concerning anesthesia technique, a Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T/S) were collected. RESULTS: A total of 59 patients were included in the study, 10 women and 49 men, with a median age of 71 years (interquartile range, 66-77 years). Fifty-four (92%) patients assessed the surgeons' given information as adequate. Older patients (>70 years, n = 31) had less self-conception of anxiety compared to younger patients (≤70 years, n = 28), 3% vs. 21%, P = 0.045. Males expressed less anxiety regarding "waking up during general anesthesia" compared to females (0% vs. 30%, P < 0.001). Anxiety about anesthesia and surgery as measured by VAS highly correlated with the STAI-S scores (Pearson correlation coefficient [CC], 0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18-0.66, P < 0.001; CC, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.27-0.66, P < 0.001, respectively). Patients with a lower cognitive function (MMSE ≤27, n = 20) had lower needs for preoperative medical information compared to patients with MMSE >27 (n = 36), 0% vs. 15%, P = 0.042. Two (3%) patients received GA because of their previous bad experience with LA. CONCLUSIONS: Younger and female patients may benefit from a more detailed and reassuring informed consent process. All institutions should use procedure-specific informed consent forms as they appear to be very adequate for the patient information needs. Nearly all patients are willing to undergo LA with the exception of those having had previous bad experience with LA for CEA.

Mode of anesthesia, mortality and outcome in geriatric patients.

BACKGROUND: In older non-cardiac surgery patients, the influence of the mode of anesthesia on late-term outcome (rehabilitation, mobility, independence) is a controversial issue in the medical literature. In light of an aging society, this review assessed the association between regional (RA), local (LA) and general anesthesia (GA) and mortality and morbidity. METHODS: A literature search within the PubMed and Cochrane databases yielded 47 clinical trials and 35 reviews/meta-analyses published between 1965 and 2013. Potential outcome-influencing factors such as mortality, risk factors, early complications (e.g. postoperative confusion, aspiration, vomiting), adverse events (e.g. deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism), discharge, rehabilitation and mobilization were evaluated in relation to the mode of anesthesia (RA, LA or GA). RESULTS: The current literature contains 82 references covering 74,476 non-cardiac surgery patients. Analysis shows that the particular mode of anesthesia influences mortality and morbidity. RA is associated with reduced early mortality and morbidity, e.g. fewer incidents of deep vein thrombosis and less acute postoperative confusion, as well as a tendency toward fewer myocardial infarctions and fatal pulmonary embolisms. GA has the advantages of a lower incidence of hypotension and reduced surgery time. CONCLUSION: Strictly speaking, true anesthesia-related complications appear to be rare and many adverse outcomes may be multifactorial. Postoperative complications are largely related to the perioperative procedure and not to the anesthesia itself. GA and RA are both useful for older non-cardiac patients, but for some procedures, e.g. hip fracture surgery, RA seems to be the technique of choice. The mode of anesthesia may only play a secondary role in mobility, rehabilitation and discharge destination. In general, due to the many different possible outcomes--which are often very difficult or impossible to compare--no other specific recommendations can be made with regard to the type of anesthesia to be preferred for older non-cardiac patients.

Are patients satisfied after peripheral nerve blockade? Results from an International Registry of Regional Anesthesia.

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral nerve blockade (PNB) is associated with superior outcomes compared with opioids; however, little is known regarding patients' perceptions of the care they have received. Patient satisfaction is emerging as an important indicator of quality of health care, and identifying deficiencies in discrete aspects of satisfaction may allow targeted interventions to improve quality. In this study, we analyze data relevant to patient satisfaction from the International Registry of Regional Anesthesia. The primary objective of this analysis was to report the results of a patient-satisfaction questionnaire and to determine predictors associated with unwillingness to have PNB repeated in the case of future surgery. METHODS: The questionnaire used in this study was derived from this registry's results and from previously validated questionnaires and addressed 3 domains of importance, namely, provision of information, pain, and interaction with the anesthesiologist. The 11-item written, multidimensional questionnaire was given to patients within 2 days postoperatively. The primary outcome was willingness to have PNB repeated in the event of future similar surgery. RESULTS: Data related to 9969 surgical procedures were collected between July 1, 2011, and March 31, 2013. The survey response rate was 61.6%. Most respondents-94.6% (95% confidence interval, 94.0%-95.1%)--stated that they were willing to have a repeat PNB. Ninety percent of respondents were satisfied or completely satisfied with the information provided about the nerve block, as well as the anesthesiologist-patient interaction. Patients who were dissatisfied with either of these domains (ie, information provision or professional interaction) were less willing to undergo repeat PNB, as were patients who reported significant pain during the nerve block procedure. CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of survey respondents were willing to undergo repeat PNB in case of future surgery and were satisfied with their anesthetic care. Targeted interventions to improve quality of PNB should be aimed at improving comfort, information provision, and physician-patient interaction.

Effect of an anaesthesia information video on preoperative maternal anxiety and postoperative satisfaction in elective caesarean section: a prospective randomised trial.

Video-based patient information supplementing clinician interview has been shown to reduce anxiety and improve satisfaction in patients undergoing procedures. In Queensland more than 90% of caesarean sections are performed under regional anaesthesia. We aimed to assess the effect of using an information video about neuraxial blockade in patients having regional anaesthesia for elective caesarean section. Subjects were randomised to undergo usual care (Group C), or to view a video and undergo usual care (Group V). Subjects completed the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory preoperatively and the Maternal Satisfaction with Caesarean Section Score questionnaire postoperatively. Satisfaction with, and duration of the preoperative anaesthetic interview, were noted. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Chi-squared tests were used in statistical analysis. One-hundred and forty three subjects were randomised and 110 completed the protocol and analysis. Group C and Group V were similar in terms demographic and anaesthesia data. There was no difference in anxiety score (41.2 versus 39.8, P=0.50), maternal satisfaction score (118.5 versus 122.7, P=0.22) or interview duration (16.3 versus 15.8 min, P=0.69) between the two groups. The use of an anaesthesia information video does not reduce preoperative anxiety or increase the duration of the anaesthetic interview. Maternal satisfaction with neuraxial blockade for elective caesarean is high and not improved by an anaesthesia information video.

Pain vs comfort scores after Caesarean section: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: The use of negative words, such as 'sting' and 'pain', can increase patient pain and anxiety. We aimed to determine how pain scores compare with comfort scores and how the technique of pain assessment affects patient perceptions and experiences after operation. METHODS: After Caesarean section, 300 women were randomized before post-anaesthesia review. Group P women were asked to rate their pain on a 0-10-point verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS), where '0' was 'no pain' and '10' was 'worst pain imaginable'. Group C women were asked to rate comfort on a 0-10-point VNRS, where '0' was 'no comfort' and '10' was 'most comfortable'. All women were asked whether the Caesarean wound was bothersome, unpleasant, associated with tissue damage, and whether additional analgesia was desired. RESULTS: The median (inter-quartile range) VNRS pain scores was higher than inverted comfort scores at rest, 2 (1, 4) vs 2 (0.5, 3), P=0.001, and movement, 6 (4, 7) vs 4 (3, 5), P<0.001. Group P women were more likely to be bothered by their Caesarean section, had greater VNRS 'Bother' scores, 4 (2, 6) vs 1 (0, 3), P<0.001, perceived postoperative sensations as 'unpleasant' [relative risk (RR) 3.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.20, 4.23], P<0.001, and related to tissue damage rather than healing and recovery (RR 2.03, 95% CI 1.30, 3.18), P=0.001. Group P women were also more likely to request additional analgesia (RR 4.33, 95% CI 1.84, 10.22), P<0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Asking about pain and pain scores after Caesarean section adversely affects patient reports of their postoperative experiences.

Development and validation of a perioperative satisfaction questionnaire in regional anesthesia.

INTRODUCTION: Evaluating patient-reported outcomes is complex. These difficulties may explain weaknesses with some existing tools: mainly, they rely on expert instead of patient views or are not metrically sound. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a multidimensional self-reported questionnaire, specifically assessing the satisfaction of patients undergoing regional anesthesia, Evaluation du Vécu de l'Anesthésie LocoRégionale (EVAN-LR). METHODS: Patients included underwent various surgical procedures under regional anesthesia. The questionnaire structure was identified by principal component factor analyses and interitem, item-dimension, and interdimension correlations. The authors assessed external validity by studying the relationships between potential dimensions of EVAN-LR and validated instruments such as Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale, State Trait Anxiety Inventory, and specific visual analog scales. Internal consistency reliability was assessed by Cronbach α. RESULTS: We included 390 patients for the validation phase. The EVAN-LR comprises 19 items, structured in a global index and five dimensions: Attention, Information, Discomfort, Waiting, and Pain. The consequences of staying alert during regional anesthesia were specifically addressed by two items. Female sex was associated with significantly lower Information score. Patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status below 2 had a significantly lower Attention score. Patients older than 55 years showed higher satisfaction scores for most dimensions. EVAN-LR poorly correlated with premedication. CONCLUSION: The authors have validated a new measuring tool assessing patient satisfaction within the perioperative period surrounding regional anesthesia. The multidimensional structure of EVAN-LR allows it to be used as a clinical tool for improving anesthesia management.

Psychological impact of unexpected explicit recall of events occurring during surgery performed under sedation, regional anaesthesia, and general anaesthesia: data from the Anesthesia Awareness Registry.

BACKGROUND: Anaesthetic awareness is a recognized complication of general anaesthesia (GA) and is associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although complete amnesia for intraprocedural events during sedation and regional anaesthesia (RA) may occur, explicit recall is expected by anaesthesia providers. Consequently, the possibility that there could be psychological consequences associated with unexpected explicit recall of events during sedation and RA has not been investigated. This study investigated the psychological sequelae of unexpected explicit recall of events during sedation/RA that was reported to the Anesthesia Awareness Registry. METHODS: The Registry recruited subjects who self-identified as having had anaesthetic awareness. Inclusion criteria were a patient-reported awareness experience in 1990 or later and availability of medical records. The sensations experienced by the subjects during their procedure and the acute and persistent psychological sequelae attributed to this explicit recall were assessed for patients receiving sedation/RA and those receiving GA. RESULTS: Among the patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria, medical record review identified 27 sedation/RA and 50 GA cases. Most patients experienced distress (78% of sedation/RA vs 94% of GA). Approximately 40% of patients with sedation/RA had persistent psychological sequelae, similar to GA patients. Some sedation/RA patients reported an adverse impact on their job performance (15%), family relationships (11%), and friendships (11%), and 15% reported being diagnosed with PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who self-reported to the Registry unexpected explicit recall of events during sedation/RA experienced distress and persistent psychological sequelae comparable with those who had reported anaesthetic awareness during GA. Further study is warranted to determine if patients reporting distress with explicit recall after sedation/RA require psychiatric follow-up.

[Please don't hurt me!: a plea against invasive procedures in children and adolescents with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)]. / Bitte nicht noch mehr verletzen! : Plädoyer gegen eine invasive Schmerztherapie bei Kindern mit komplexem regionalem Schmerzsyndrom (CRPS).

BACKGROUND: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS; formerly known as Morbus Sudeck/reflex dystrophy) is diagnosed in children and adolescents, but the clinical presentation is often atypical. Unfortunately, potentially harmful, invasive treatments are used in pediatric patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart study of pediatric chronic pain patients with CRPS was performed. RESULTS: Over the course of 6 years, 37 (35 girls) children and adolescents took part in a multidisciplinary chronic pain inpatient program. At admission, patients took on average 4.4 (range 1-10) different medications and 29 different pharmaceuticals were used overall. Prior to admission, invasive pain treatments were performed without success in 16 of the children (43%). At least 13 children received two or more invasive treatments. Although sympathetic blocks were most prevalent, operations and regional anesthesia were also used. CONCLUSION: Despite a lack of evidence for invasive procedures, these continue to be used in children and adolescents with CRPS, who later respond positively to conventional treatment. The English full-text version of this article is available at SpringerLink (under "Supplemental").

Patient experiences as knowledge for the evidence base: a qualitative approach to understanding patient experiences regarding the use of regional anesthesia for hip and knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is reported that patients continue to have misgivings about regional anesthesia (RA) despite strong evidence to support its use for hip and knee replacement surgery. To date, no one has had an opportunity to study the experiences of patients who have undergone both types of anesthesia for these procedures. METHODS: Using descriptive qualitative methods, 12 patients who had hip or knee replacements under both RA and GA at two different time points (excluding revisions) were interviewed using purposeful sampling until saturation had been reached. Following transcription of each tape, a small study team met over the course of several months to read and discuss each transcript. A coding template was developed, and emerging themes noted. RESULTS: For the majority of patients, RA was either well tolerated or preferred. Having a previous negative experience with general anesthesia was common and was strongly associated with a patient's satisfaction with RA. Patients also described being highly influenced by the preference of their surgeon. CONCLUSIONS: These findings have important implications. First, many patients were surprisingly neutral about the procedure and seemed more fearful of anesthesia in general rather than of either technique specifically. This finding, combined with patient's influence by clinician preference, underscores the importance of physician support for RA. Some participants identified one of their misgivings about RA as being fear of being awake, which is consistent with the medical literature. Our findings also support the idea that from a patient's perspective, appropriate sedation while undergoing RA may be important.

Patient perceptions of regional anesthesia: influence of gender, recent anesthesia experience, and perioperative concerns.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Anesthesiologists often find that patients would prefer a general anesthetic (GA) to a regional anesthetic (RA) for surgery. We surveyed patients' attitudes to RA in an Australian tertiary-care hospital, hoping to understand the reasons for acceptance or refusal. We explored how 3 main factors influence the patient's choice for subsequent RA: gender, type of anesthetic on the day of surgery, and perioperative concerns. METHODS: Consecutive patients at a single institution were interviewed on the first postoperative day by a research nurse, either as a face-to-face interview or by telephone after ambulatory surgery. A short description of RA and GA was given, and preferences for future anesthesia and concerns were recorded. RESULTS: Complete data were obtained from 1000 patients. More women preferred GA compared with men (76.3% vs 69.0%). Patients who received only RA during their surgery on the previous day were almost 3 times more likely to express a future preference for RA compared with those who received any GA, using hypothetical examples of arm or hip surgery (83.2% vs 21.1%, P = 0.00001). Patients expressed more concerns about hearing or seeing the surgery than experiencing a complication, and 84% preferred sedation. CONCLUSIONS: More patients, especially females, may accept RA if reassured appropriately about not hearing or seeing the surgery. Once patients have experienced RA, they are more likely to choose it in future. Modification of our discussion and consent process may increase the uptake of RA techniques.

Anaesthesia preference, neuraxial vs general, and outcome after caesarean section.

We investigated parturients' preference for neuraxial vs general anaesthesia, while they have experienced both techniques in the past. A total of 102 parturients who underwent elective caesarean section under general or neuraxial anaesthesia at different times completed a questionnaire comparing the two techniques. According to our results, 98% vs 51% (p < 0.001) of the women saw the baby and 51% vs 29% (p = 0.003) ambulated in the neuraxial and general anaesthesia groups, respectively, within the first 24 h postoperatively. Neuraxial anaesthesia was associated with less pain assessed by the Verbal Analogue Scale (VAS) (54 ± 21 vs 72 ± 20 p < 0.001), fewer days of hospital stay (4 ± 0.5 vs 5 ± 1.5, p = 0.001) and higher satisfaction scores (77 ± 18 vs 52 ± 24, p = 0.001) vs general anaesthesia. Finally, 80% of the women would choose neuraxial anaesthesia for a future caesarean section.

Anaesthesia for caesarean delivery: choice of technique among antenatal attendees in North-eastern Nigeria.

The objective of this study is to document the anaesthetic preference of pregnant women in two tertiary institutions in North-eastern Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study of pregnant women seen at the antenatal clinics of the university of Maiduguri teaching hospital and Federal Medical Centre, Yola, from August to October 2009. A total of 254 women were interviewed. They were aged 18-43 with a mean of 28.56 ± 5.602 years. The parity ranged from 1-9 with a mean of 2.71 ± 1.956. Most (178, 70.1%) respondents preferred general anaesthesia and the commonest reason for the preference was various forms of fear 128 (71.9 %). The commonest reason for preference for regional anaesthesia was to watch the procedure live 50 (65.8%). Age (χ(2) = 52.364, p = 0.000), education (χ(2) = 8.780, p = 0.032), occupation (χ(2) = 18.555, p = 0.002) and religion (χ(2) = 4.936, p = 0.026) were significantly associated with preference for general anaesthesia. Only age (p = 0.000, OR 8.17, CI = 0.000-1.00) retained significance after multivariate analysis. Considering the fact that the global trend is towards regional anaesthesia due to lower morbidity and mortality, the high preference for general anaesthesia in our survey is worrisome. Health education during antenatal clinics should highlight the superiority of regional over general anaesthesia for caesarean delivery.

Effect of preoperative multimedia information on perioperative anxiety in patients undergoing procedures under regional anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Provision of preoperative information can alleviate patients' anxiety. However, the ideal method of delivering this information is unknown. Video information has been shown to reduce patients' anxiety, although little is known regarding the effect of preoperative multimedia information on anxiety in patients undergoing regional anaesthesia. METHODS: We randomized 110 patients undergoing upper or lower limb surgery under regional anaesthesia into the study and control groups. The study group watched a short film (created by the authors) depicting the patient's in-hospital journey including either a spinal anaesthetic or a brachial plexus block. Patients' anxiety was assessed before and after the film and 1 h before and within 8 h after their operation, using the Spielberger state trait anxiety inventory and a visual analogue scale. RESULTS: There was no difference in state and trait anxiety between the two groups at enrollment. Women had higher baseline state and trait anxiety than men (P=0.02). Patients in the control group experienced an increase in state anxiety immediately before surgery (P<0.001), and patients in the film group were less anxious before operation than those in the control group (P=0.04). After operation, there was a decrease in state anxiety from baseline in both groups, but patients in the film group were less anxious than the control group (P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative multimedia information reduces the anxiety of patients undergoing surgery under regional anaesthesia. This type of information is easily delivered and can benefit many patients.

[Appreciation of the role of regional anaesthesia in managing facial wounds in the emergency unit]. / Appréciation de la place de l'anesthésie locorégionale pour la prise en charge des plaies de la face aux urgences.

OBJECTIVE: Defining the place of regional anaesthesia (RA) for facial wounds in an emergency department. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study conducted in the emergency department of a regional hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and forty-six successive patients with one or more facial wounds were included from 1st august 2004 to 31st december 2004. Data on patient, operator, wound (measured by the number of stitches), anaesthetic method (RA, local anaesthesia [LA], or no anaesthesia), method of repairing skin, duration of intervention, operator comfort (verbal numeric scale [VNS] from 0 to 10) and pain felt by the patient (visual analogic scale [VAS] from 0 to 10) in the different stages of care were collected. RESULTS: Compared to the LA, the RA of the face decreased the number of punctures (1.36 vs 4.38 punctures, p<0.001) and the quantity of local anaesthetic injected (2.8 ml vs 5.3 ml, p<0.01) for wounds requiring more than 10 stitches. It has improved operator comfort (VNS = 10 [8-10] vs 8 [6.75-10] (p<0.01)). Its effectiveness during skin repair was equivalent to that of the LA by infiltration (VAS 0 [0-1] vs 0 [0-1]). CONCLUSION: When practicable, the RA of the face is a better technique than the LA for facial wounds treatment.

Anxiety in the operating theatre: a study of frequency and environmental impact in patients having local, plexus or regional anaesthesia.

AIMS: To estimate the frequency of intraoperative anxiety, the influence of environmental factors on intraoperative anxiety and to study the relationship between intraoperative anxiety and generalised anxiety and depression. BACKGROUND: Previous research has documented that surgery is associated with increased stress and anxiety, which have an adverse effect on patient outcomes. Few studies have been conducted to obtain patients' perspectives about the influence of the operating theatre environment on anxiety. DESIGN: The study used a survey design including questionnaires. METHOD: Clinical variables were noted from the anaesthesia medical records. The sample (n = 119) comprised patients undergoing elective surgery and emergency operations within 24 hours of admission. Anxiety was assessed by the Jakobsen's questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale. RESULTS: Twenty-three per cent felt anxious on arrival at the operating theatre, 35% were anxious at induction of anaesthesia, while 12% felt anxious after induction. At start of surgery 15% experienced anxiety and during surgery 9% were anxious. Continuous information reduced the experience of anxiety in 49% of the patients and the opportunity to ask questions during the intraoperative period reduced anxiety in 55%. The sight of technical equipment and surgical instruments was reported to increase anxiety in 9% and 6% of the sample, respectively. Patients with higher levels of general anxiety and depression also experienced significantly higher levels of anxiety in the intraoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: In this study patients experience highest level of anxiety at induction of anaesthetics. The operating theatre environments impact on patients' anxiety are in less degree influenced by the sight and hearing of the technical equipment and the surroundings. Continuous information and opportunity to ask questions reduces patients' anxiety. Results indicate that there is a significant positive relationship between generalised anxiety and depression prior to admission and anxiety experienced during the intraoperative period. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Generalised anxiety and depression prior to surgery should be identified to implement nursing interventions to reduce anxiety in the operating theatre.