THE ROLE OF SURGICAL GUIDANCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT IN MANAGEMENT OF PAIN RELIEF AFTER THYROIDECTOMY

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Maxillofacial/Head and Neck Surgical Unit,

2 Department of Neuropsychiatric, Sohag Faculty of Medicine, Egypt

3 Department of Surgery, Sohag University, Egypt

4 Department of Anaesthesia, Sohag Faculty of Medicine

5 Department of Med-Surg Nursing, Sohag Faculty of Nursing, Sohag University, Egypt

Abstract

Aim: Inadequate management of postoperative pain is common since it has been neglected for too long. Our 
aim is to find out the effect of preoperative structured surgical information and psychological support that 
the patients received in pain relief after thyroidectomy.
Methods: This prospective study has been conducted in Sohag University Hospitals, in the period from 
October 2007 to April 2009. Pain intensity was measured in day 1, 2, and 3 postoperatively in 132 patients 
undergoing thyroidectomy for simple multinodular goitre. They were divided into 4 groups: group (A) with 
no special surgical or anesthetic information or psychological preparation; group (B) with detailed surgical 
and anesthetic guidance; group (C) with psychological support; and group (D) with both surgical and 
anesthetic guidance and psychological support. The consumed analgesics were, also measured collectively 
in the postoperative three days and compared in the four groups of cases. All patients answered the 
questionnaire of 4-point scale for pain assessment.
Results: Structured pre-surgical information and psychological preparation were negatively correlated with 
feeling of postoperative pain and this was statistically highly significant during day 1, 2, and 3 
postoperatively (p < 0.001; 0.001; 0.017 respectively). The mean consumed analgesic ampoules were more in 
group A than in group B and C and the least consumed analgesics was in group D and this was statistically 
highly significant (p <0.001). 
Conclusion: Systematic and structured preoperative surgical information and guidance provided by the 
surgeon, anesthesiologist, psychiatrist and nursing staff positively impacts the intensity of experienced 
postoperative pain and hence decreases the consumed analgesics and their side effects. 

Keywords

The Egyptian Journal of Surgery
Volume 30, Issue 4
October 2011
Pages 149-154

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