Correlation of Blood Pressure, Heart Rate and Pain with Anxiety, and Importance of its Prevention in Surgery of Impacted Third Molars Under Local Anesthesia

Abstract

Aim: To examine whether there is a correlation between blood pressure, heart rate, and pain with the level of preoperative and postoperative anxiety in surgery of impacted third molars under local anesthesia. Subjects and Methods: In the study, which included adult patients of both sexes with an indication for surgical extraction of impacted third molars, research parameters were measured as follows: 1st measurement (day of examination) - blood pressure, heart rate, preoperative anxiety with Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI); 2nd measurement (immediately before the intervention) - blood pressure, heart rate, preoperative anxiety with STAI; 3rd measurement (day after intervention) - blood pressure, heart rate, postoperative anxiety with STAI, postoperative pain with visual analog scale. Results: The values of preoperative and postoperative anxiety and the measured parameters of blood pressure, heart rate, and postoperative pain were statistically significantly positively correlated with each other during all measurements. Conclusion: In order to increase the satisfaction of both the patient and the ordinarius, and to prevent possible complications in this type of oral surgical intervention, it would be useful to consider adequate therapy in order to prevent the development of anxiety, considering the confirmed correlation with the measured parameters.