In women, the post-caesarean pain interrupts the postoperative recovery. For an effective postoperative pain control in pregnant women, the estimation of anxiety level before elective cesarean delivery, psychiatric investigation and appropriate therapeutic method may be helpful. 

To evaluate the preoperative anxiety impact on the postoperative pain and analgesic intake among individuals going through cesarean deliveries (Cds).

A total of 160 females with a 37-week minimum gestation obtained either spinal or general anaesthesia at the time of the elective CD. The prenatal anxiety was determined by using Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS), State Anxiety Inventory (SAI), and Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI). Further, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was applied to measure the intensity of postoperative pain. The analgesic need and pain were noticed at the 1st, 6th, 12th, 18th, and 24th postoperative hours.

Both groups exhibited statistically similar clinical features, laboratory parameters, and demographics. Additionally, no differences were seen between the groups concerning the mean TAI, SSAS, and SAI scores and the Pethidine and Diclofenac consumptions. Patients received spinal anaesthesia showed lower 1st-hour, 6th-hour, and 12th-hour VAS scores as compared to the general group. No connection was found between VAS scores and TAI, SSAS, and SAI scores.

Women with preoperative SAI scores >45 and who went through cesarean deliveries (CDs) with general anaesthesia showed higher pain intensity scores in the first 12 hours as compared to those who received spinal anaesthesia. Assessing the patient’s anxiety state and psychiatric assessment may be beneficial for reducing the postoperative pain severity. However, further analyses are required to confirm the results of this study.