Factors Affecting Post-Cesarean Pain Intensity in Patients at Taleghani Hospital in 2021

Abstract

Background & Objective: In all surgical interventions including cesarean section, pain is a challenging issue.  The aim of this study was to identify the underlying causes that affect post-cesarean pain intensity.Materials & Methods: A total of 128 consecutive patients who underwent cesarean section at Taleghani hospital were included in the study. A questionnaire was used to gather the patients’ demographic and clinical data. The length of the incision was measured with a ruler on the first day following the cesarean section. In addition, the pain intensity was assessed using a Likert scale at scales: 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24, on the day after surgery and 48 hours and one week later. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all variables. Analyses were conducted using SPSS version 22 and a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The study showed that overall, patient age, BMI, level of education, type of surgical incision, duration of surgery, type of cesarean section, type of anesthesia, and breastfeeding were not predictors of postoperative pain intensity. However, the study found that “indication of the cesarean section” and the “stage of labor” in which the cesarean was performed are correlated with postoperative pain intensity. (P-value<0.05).Conclusion: In this study, we were able to identify 2 parameters that were independently associated to postoperative pain scores: “underlying indication of cesarean section” and the “stage of labor” in which cesarean section is performed. This information helps clinicians to identify high-risk patients in terms of postoperative pain and take early action.