engleski

Effects of stress caused by surgical operation on some psychophysiological variables

The aim of this investigation was to establish the effects of so called preoperative and postoperative stress, which appears during preoperative and postoperative period, on some psychophysiological variables, which indicate state of stress. It is reasonable to assume that by approching of the surgical operation, level of anxiety, high activation, pulse rate and patient’s assessment of gravity of his operation, will increase. Ten patients, expecting operation of hernia or gall bladder, took part in this investigation which included measurements of anxiety, high activation (stress), pulse rate and the assessment of gravity of his/her operation, seven days before, one day before and two hours before the operation, as well as seven days after the operation. The subjects were 42 to 69 years of age. The level of variables was measured by standard procedures, while the gravity of operation was assessed on Borg’s scale. The results showed changes in all the variables, i.e. the preoperative stress was increasing as the day of the operation approched. The patients assessment of the gravity of operation also increased during this period. As could be expected, the level of stress indicators decreased after the operation. Trait anxiety seemed to be an important variables in experienced level of stress.

stress; surgical operation; psychophysiological variables

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