# Lumbar disk herniation surgeries: the impact of preoperative holding area duration on anxiety and postoperative pain

## TL;DR

Longer waiting times before lumbar surgery increase anxiety and may worsen postoperative pain and analgesic needs.

## Contribution

This study identifies a link between preoperative waiting duration, anxiety, and postoperative pain outcomes in lumbar disk herniation surgery.

## Key findings

- Anxiety levels significantly correlate with preoperative holding area waiting time.
- Longer waiting times are initially linked to higher postoperative pain and analgesic use, though these correlations lose significance after correction.
- Reducing preoperative anxiety may improve patient satisfaction and surgical outcomes.

## Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate how anxiety levels are affected by preoperative holding area waiting times and how these fears affect pain following surgery. Patients waiting for surgery frequently suffer from preoperative anxiety, which can have an impact on how well they manage their postoperative pain.

Forty-eight individuals with lumbar disc herniation scheduled for surgery participated in the study. Patients’ anxiety and pain levels were measured both during and after the preoperative holding area waiting period using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Additional information was also documented, including waiting times and tramadol usage.

The APAIS (postwait) score and preoperative holding area waiting time had a significant correlation (r = 0.669, p < 0.001). Initially, a positive correlation was found between waiting time and postoperative VAS scores (r = 0.309, p = 0.033), as well as between the tramadol dosage used for postoperative pain management and the STAI-S (postwait) and STAI-T scores (STAI-S (postwait): r = 0.286, p = 0.046; STAI-T: r = 0.306, p = 0.035). However, after applying the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons, these associations no longer remained statistically significant.

Patients’ anxiety levels rise with longer preoperative holding area waiting times, and this has an impact on their postoperative discomfort. Increased preoperative anxiety is associated with greater postoperative analgesic requirements, whereas reducing preoperative anxiety may enhance patient satisfaction and surgical outcomes. Postoperative pain and recovery may be enhanced by cutting down on waiting periods, educating patients about the surgical procedure, and putting anxiety management strategies into practice.