The Influence of Preoperative Anxiety on Postoperative Pain in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

One of the main causes for concern in patients undergoing cardiac surgery is postoperative pain. This study focused on levels of preoperative anxiety, one driver of postoperative pain. After updated guidelines recommended incorporating anxiety assessment into the preoperative process, this study was performed to gauge the effectiveness of that process in evaluating postoperative pain. The results found that patients with higher preoperative anxiety experienced increased postoperative pain and needed more medication for pain management, reinforcing the updated guidelines.