An Observational Study on Patient Perceptions and Psychological Sequelae Following Surgery Under Sedation and General Anesthesia

Abstract

Anesthesia is an essential component of modern surgery, but patients’ psychological experiences and perceptions following anesthesia, whether sedation or general, are less frequently studied. This observational study aims to assess and compare patient perceptions and the psychological sequelae following surgeries performed under sedation versus general anesthesia. A total of 150 patients undergoing elective surgeries were included in the study, with 75 receiving sedation and 75 undergoing general anesthesia. Postoperative assessments included surveys focusing on anxiety, post-operative pain, satisfaction, cognitive function, and any psychological symptoms such as nightmares, depression, or anxiety. The results revealed that patients who underwent sedation reported significantly less anxiety preoperatively but experienced more post-operative pain compared to those who received general anesthesia. Psychological sequelae were more common in the general anesthesia group, including memory disturbances and post-operative depression. This study suggests that the choice of anesthesia type can influence not only the immediate postoperative experience but also the psychological well-being of patients in the longer term. Further research is needed to explore strategies to minimize the psychological impact of both sedation and general anesthesia.

Keywords: anesthesia, sedation, general anesthesia, psychological sequelae, patient perceptions, post-operative anxiety, cognitive function, depression.