Impression and assessment of anesthesia by patients. An interview study
Bønsing, E.; Bendtsen, A.; Lomholt, B.; Schwedler, M.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 143(21): 1320-1322
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 7292695 Document Number: 174493
Both inpatients and outpatients were interviewed, 720 prior to receiving anesthesia and 679 after anesthesia for planned operations. On the average, 84% of the patients had been anesthesized previously and 21% of these had unpleasant memories of these episodes. Slightly more than 1/2 of the inpatients were anxious preoperatively but at the postoperative interview, 86% stated that they felt calm at the induction of anesthesia. The role of premedication here is debatable as the same reduction in preoperative anxiety was observed among the outpatients who did not receive premedication. Fewer than 1/2 of the patients in whom the intervention was performed under local anesthesia would have preferred general anesthesia instead. Satisfaction was lowest with local analgesia as only 77% desired the same form of anesthesia again. The greatest satisfaction was expressed among patients in whom outpatient termination of pregnancy was undertaken (96%). Patients who underwent pregnancy termination were just as anxious preoperatively and postoperatively and expressed a great desire for general anesthesia as the patients who were to undergo much more serious interventions. Over 1/3 of the patients had sore throats following intubation. Postoperative respirator therapy did not result in increased incidence of sore throats. (author's modified)