Effects of showing the operating room on preoperative anxiety and hemodynamics among patients with hypertension: A randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Anxiety is one of the most important causes of hypertension, increasing direct blood pressure and affecting postoperative morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of showing the operating room on preoperative anxiety and hemodynamics among patients with hypertension.

Methods: We enrolled 90 patients with hypertension undergoing cholecystectomy in this trial. Patients were randomly divided into two groups using a sealed-envelope system. Group STOR was shown the operating room the day before surgery, while Group No STOR was not shown the operating room.

Results: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores measured on the day of surgery were lower for Group STOR (43.2 ± 6.0) than Group No STOR (49.8 ± 7.9) ( = .001). Systolic ( = .001, = .006, respectively), diastolic ( = .001, = .004, respectively), and heart rate ( = .018, = .031, respectively) values in the operation room and preoperative unit were lower in Group STOR than in Group No STOR. The number of postponed operations in Group STOR was lower than in Group No STOR ( = .043), and the patient satisfaction score in Group STOR was higher than in Group No STOR ( = .031).

Conclusion: In patients with hypertension, preoperative anxiety, blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate all increase in the preoperative unit and operation room. Our findings indicate that showing the operating room to patients with hypertension decreases preoperative anxiety, as well as blood pressure and heart rate inside the operating room and preoperative unit. It also reduces the number of postponed operations and increases patient satisfaction.