Quality of recovery from anesthesia in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery of the lower limbs

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES For patients undergoing regional anesthesia for orthopedic surgery, a common situation in our work environment, the quality of recovery may be influenced in different ways, which justifies studies to identify possible predictive factors of dissatisfaction. The aim of this study was to assess the opinion of patients on recovery from anesthesia for lower limb orthopedic surgeries. We also identified potential predictive factors for poor quality of recovery. METHODS We evaluated patients undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgeries and able to participate in the study. Data related to surgery, anesthesia, possible complications in the post-anesthetic care unit (PACU) and in the ward were recorded. In the morning after surgery, patients were evaluated by a medical student who applied the QoR-40 questionnaire. The resulted score-between 40 and 200-was used to determine the quality of recovery and identify the potential predictors. RESULTS We evaluated 172 patients. The questionnaire average score was 192 points. The chance to have lower scores in the QoR-40 was two times higher among males. Patients who remained under sedation, classified as greater than or equal to 4 on the scale proposed by Ramsay, had a 3.5 times higher risk of having lower scores in the QoR-40 compared to those who remained with level 1 or 2 of sedation. Regarding pain, at every increase of one unit in the numerical scale (0-10), there was a 19% increase in risk for QoR-40 ≤ 195. Similarly, the risk for a score below the median was 2.3 times higher among those presenting with nausea and/or vomiting in the ward. CONCLUSION Male, nausea, vomiting, pain while in the ward, and deeper levels of sedation are possible predictive factors for lower scores according to the adopted instrument.