Factors Affecting Intensity of Post-Operative Pain After Caesarean Section Under Spinal Anaesthesia

Uzma Afreen; Syed Fazal e Karim Faisal; Tazeen Fatima Munim; Ayesha Shahid; Faraheem Batool; Tasneem Alam

doi:10.71104/jsogp.v15i4.965

Uzma Afreen Assistant Professor, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Fazaia Ruth PFAU Medical College, PAF Base Faisal Hospital, Karachi
Syed Fazal e Karim Faisal Assistant Professor, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care,Fazaia Medical College,PAF Hospital, Islamabad
Tazeen Fatima Munim Consultant Gynaecologist, Habib MedicalCentre, Parklane Hospital Clifton, and Hashmani Hospital, M.A.Jinnah Road, Karachi
Ayesha Shahid Associate Professor, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care,Fazaia Medical college, PAF Hospital, Islamabad
Faraheem Batool Psychologist/ Students Counsellor, Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College,PAF Base Faisal Hospital, Karachi
Tasneem Alam Assistant Professor , Department of Anaesthesia, Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry, Fauji Foundation Hospital (S.O.M.H), Karachi

DOI: https://doi.org/10.71104/jsogp.v15i4.965

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to investigate the factors influencing the intensity of post-operative pain following caesarean section under spinal anesthesia

Methodology: This prospective observational study was carried out at PAF Hospital Faisal Base, Karachi, from 06-Feb-2024 to 06 Aug-2024, included 270 patients who underwent elective or emergency C-section under spinal anesthesia. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to describe intensity of pain at 2, 12, and 48 hours after surgery. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant.

Authorship Contribution: ^1,2Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work or the acquisition, ⁴Final approval of the study to be published, ^3,6Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content. Data analysis & literature review

Funding Source: none

Conflict of Interest: none

Received: June 27, 2025

Revised: Oct 17, 2025

Accepted: Nov 04, 2025

Results: Among all the variables, significant observation identified in the pain intensity based on parity (P=0.034), labour phase (P=0.04), indication of surgery ie failure to progress (P=0.032), duration of surgery (P=0.034) and incision length (P=0.023). While type of surgery (0.073) dose not affect upon intensity of post-operative pain. This study invites us to think about broader perioperative assessments of patients submitted for caesarean section and development of clinical tool for appropriate guidelines for satisfactory postoperative pain management, which is one the contributing factor for postoperative quality care.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates higher score of postoperative pain associated with the factors like higher parity, active phase of labour, emergency C-section, longer duration of surgery and incision length of more than 10 cm. There is a need to evaluate other factors contributing intensity of postoperative pain for the provision of better health care.