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

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the factors influencing the intensity of post-operative pain following caesarean section under spinal anesthesia.

Methodology: This prospective observational study included 270 patients who underwent elective or emergency C-section under spinal anesthesia. After obtaining ethical approval, a questionnaire was used to collect demographic, clinical, and surgical data. 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.

Results: Among all the variables, significant difference was observed in the pain intensity based on parity (P=0.034), type of surgery (P=0.073), 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). 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.