The effect of psychological intervention on restlessness in elderly patients in the recovery period of general anesthesia after catheterization

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of psychological intervention on the restlessness in elderly patients in anesthesia recovery period after the inducement of urethral catheterization. Methods 60 patients, undergoing general anesthesia trachea intubation for open chest operation, were randomly allocated to three groups. 20 patients for each. In the first group, 20 patients were catheterized before the inducement of general anesthesia;In the second group, catheter was inserted after the inducement of general anesthesia. Whereas the patients in the third group were received psychological intervention by circuit nurses after entering the operation room. The patients were given detail explanations of catheterization before and after the inducement of general anesthesia , of the advantages and necessity of intubations after anesthesia, and of the discomfort of intubations during the anesthesia recovery period because of the catheter stimulation. With the understanding and cooperation of the patients, catheter was inserted after the inducement of general anesthesia. Of all the three groups, the heart rate and the blood pressure after urethral catheterization, the success rate of catheterization and the restlessness in the recovery period of general anesthesia were closely observed. Results In the first group, the heart rate and the blood pressure were both obviously increased;the success rate of catheterization was 80% (P 0.05) .In the second group, both the heart rate and the blood pressure were stable;the success rate of catheterization was 100% ( P > 0.05 ) ;but the restlessness and the rate of catheter pulling - off were increased ( P 0. 05) . Conclusions Psychological intervention can obviously ease the restlessness in recovery period of general anesthesia in elderly patients with the catheter inserted;moreover, the inducement of catheterization after anesthesia can enhance the success rate of catheterization and alleviate the pain of patients, representing the patient - centered service tenet. Key words: Psychological intervention; Elderly patients; Catheterization; Recovery of general anesthesia; Restlessness