The relationship between patient stress and the blood levels of acute phase proteins in rhinoplasty: the report of a prospective study.

Objective: This study aims to interrogate the relationship between patient stress and the levels of acute phase proteins (APP) in rhinoplasty.

Methods: Twenty-six primary rhinoplasty patients were asked about the most stressful step of the rhinoplasty process, which were (1) deciding on the operation, (2) waiting in the preoperative room, (3) the first few postoperative hours, and (4) withdrawing the nasal pack, in order beginning from the most stressful one, preoperatively, and then postoperatively. C-reactive protein (CRP), alfa-1-acide glycoprotein (AAG), ceruloplasmin (CER), haptoglobulin (HPT), and alfa-1-antitrypsin (AT) have been studied in blood to detect a relation between the patient stress and the levels of APP.

Results: Preoperatively, the "imagined" most stressful step was Step 4 (61.53%). Postoperatively, the "declared" most stressful step was Step 3 (50%). The blood levels of APP matched with the imagined rather than the declared stress.

Conclusion: Patient stress could be a preoperative issue, which should be eliminated preoperatively. Detailed description of the surgery and some pharmaceutics can inhibit the negative effects of the stressors and have a contribution to patient comfort.