Background and Objectives: Preoperative anxiety is a common emotional response before elective surgery that influences postoperative outcomes and can increase analgesic requirements. However, clinicians frequently overlook these concerns. This study aimed to quantify preoperative anxiety and evaluate its association with patient-related factors. Materials and Methods: Anxiety levels were evaluated in adult patients awaiting elective surgery using the Korean-translated version of the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Korean YZ form (STAI-KYZ). The patients were also surveyed regarding the subjective causes of preoperative anxiety. Results: The study found that a total of 55 adult patients had a well-balanced subject distribution. Both questionnaires showed high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.85 and 0.93). Significant correlations were observed in situational anxiety scores from the questionnaires, indicating differences between groups with high trait anxiety and those with normal anxiety levels (p < 0.05). Notably, female sex was the only patient-related factor that significantly affected the anxiety scores (p < 0.05). Furthermore, when considering additional patient factors stratified by sex, it became evident that younger females and females with prior general anesthesia experience displayed higher anxiety levels than their male counterparts. The most commonly reported subjective concern related to anesthesia was the fear of not regaining consciousness, followed by concerns about postoperative pain, intraoperative emergence, and other issues. Conclusions: This study confirms that being female is a significant risk factor for preoperative anxiety. Therefore, it is necessary to provide enhanced preoperative anxiolytic therapies, including preoperative patient education and other interventions, to individuals undergoing surgical procedures.

Background: Higher levels of anxiety increase the risks of surgery, including morbidity and mortality. The objectives of this study were to measure anxiety and depression during the preoperative period and to identify the degree of knowledge and concerns of older patients and their family protectors regarding anesthesia, and the causes of these concerns. Methods: We administered a questionnaire to older patients scheduled to undergo surgery and their family protectors one day prior to the surgery. The questionnaire included tools for quantifying anxiety and depression (Anxiety-Visual Analogue Scale, the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Korean YZ Form, and Short Form Geriatric Depression Scale). We also asked about the concrete causes of anxiety using pre-created forms.Results: There were 140 older patients and family protectors who participated in the study. The majority of older patients (n = 114, 81.4%) undergoing surgery and their family protectors (n = 114, 81.4%) indicated that they were anxious. Most of the older patients and their family protectors responded that they had insufficient knowledge about anesthesia, and they were mostly worried about failure to awaken following surgery, and postoperative pain. Older patients with higher anxiety scores showed higher depression scores. There were significant differences in depression scores depending on the presence of cohabitating family members. Conclusions: It is important to remember that older patients with higher depression scores have higher anxiety during the preoperative period.

Background: Differences in the effects of propofol and dexmedetomidine sedation on electroencephalogram patterns have been reported previously. However, the reliability of the Bispectral Index (BIS) value for assessing the sedation caused by dexmedetomidine remains debatable. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation between the BIS value and the Modified Observer’s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (MOAA/S) scale in patients sedated with dexmedetomidine. Methods: Forty-two patients (age range, 20–80 years) who were scheduled for elective surgery under spinal anesthesia were enrolled in this study. Spinal anesthesia was performed using 0.5% bupivacaine, which was followed by dexmedetomidine infusion (loading dose, 0.5–1 μg/kg for 10 min; maintenance dose, 0.3–0.6 μg/kg/h). The MOAA/S score was used to evaluate the level of sedation, and the Vital Recorder program was used to collect data (vital signs and BIS values). Results: A total of 215082 MOAA/S scores and BIS data pairs were analyzed. The baseline variability of the BIS value was 7.024%, and the decrease in the BIS value was associated with a decrease in the MOAA/S score. The correlation coefficient and prediction probability between the two measurements were 0.566 (P < 0.0001) and 0.636, respectively. The mean ± standard deviation values of the BIS were 87.22 ± 7.06, 75.85 ± 9.81, and 68.29 ± 12.65 when the MOAA/S scores were 5, 3, and 1, respectively. Furthermore, the cut-off BIS values in the receiver operating characteristic analysis at MOAA/S scores of 5, 3, and 1 were 82, 79, and 73, respectively. Conclusion: The BIS values were significantly correlated with the MOAA/S scores. Thus, the BIS along with the clinical sedation scale might prove useful in assessing the hypnotic depth of a patient during sedation with dexmedetomidine.

Sungho Moon, Sehun Lim, Jongwon Yun, Wonjin Lee, Myounghun Kim, Kwangrae Cho, and Seunghee Ki. Anesth Pain Med 2020;15:88-95. https://doi.org/10.17085/apm.2020.15.1.88

Background: Vocal cord paralysis (VCP) is one of the most stressful experiences for patients undergoing general anesthesia. Moreover, it is a risk factor for aspiration pneumonia and may increase morbidity and mortality. We examined several clinical features of the condition by reviewing the medical records of patients who experienced VCP following general anesthesia.Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 321 patients who consulted an otolaryngologist owing to hoarseness, sore throat, throat discomfort, or dysphagia after general anesthesia. Among these, we included in the present study 43 patients who were diagnosed with VCP by laryngoscopy, who did not have symptoms of suspected VCP before surgery, who had no past history of VCP, and for whom endotracheal intubation was not continued after surgery.Results: The mean age of patients with VCP was 51.28 years. With respect to surgical site, the most common was upper limb surgery, performed in 12 cases (9 cases were performed in sitting posture. With respect to surgical duration, only 11 cases lasted less than 3 h, whereas 32 cases required a surgical duration longer than 3 h. The most common symptom of VCP was hoarseness. Nine of the patients with VCP recovered spontaneously, but VCP persisted in 13 cases until the final follow-up examination.Conclusions: We hope that this study might call attention to the occurrence of VCP following general anesthesia. Moreover, it is necessary to further evaluate the reasons for the higher incidence of VCP in upper limb surgery performed in sitting posture.