The anxiety-pain intensity relation in extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy treated patients

Abstract

Introduction: To clarify the negative effect of anxiety on pain intensity in patients, who underwent Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL). Patients and Method: ASA physical status I and II 71 patient with the age ranging 10 to 64 were included the study. Patients divided into two groups randomly. Detailed information about ESWL session was given to the patients in Group I and patients in Group II did not receive any descriptive information. All procedures were performed by a third generation electrohydraulic Stone Litho3pter (PCK™). Intravenous fentanyl 1?gr/kg was administered 2 minutes before the procedure for analgesic purposes. Pains intensity was evaluated by 0-100 mm Visuel Analog Scala (VAS) at the first minute and every 10 minutes of the treatment. Conditional and continual anxiety were assessed by State/Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait Anxiety (STAI-TA), and State/Trait Anxiety Inventory-State Anxiety (STAI-SA). Results: There was no correlation between STAI-SA and pain intensity. However, patients with higher STAI-TA scores needed higher doses of supplement analgesics because of higher pain intensity. Patients, who had received information, had lower scores of STAI-TA and pain intensity. Young female patients between 20-29 years old had the highest anxiety with high pain intensity. Conclusion: ESWL is an anxiety promoting procedure. The more intense pain and anxiety negatively effected the overall patient satisfaction. Detailed information of patients about the procedure and the knowledge of pain intensity has been higher in young female patients may be advantageous for patients and care givers.