Anxiety, hostility, and blood pressure variation during heart surgery
Abstract
GUIDO MAGNI M.D. 1 , GRAZIANO CANTON M.D. 1 , CARLO VALFRÈ M.D. 2 , ELVIO POLESEL M.D. 2 , , and FRANCO CESARI M.D. 2 1 From the Institutes of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Padova School of Medicine, Italy 2 Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Padova School of Medicine, Italy Preoperative scores on the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PF) and the Symptom Distress Check List (SCL-90), as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressures at 14 time intervals, were examined in 131 patients who underwent open heart surgery. Patients who scored higher on the SCL-90 hostility subscale had significantly higher systolic values at the beginning of surgery and during cardiopulmonary bypass than did patients with lower hostility scores. Patients with higher scores on the Q 4 (anxiety) subscale of the 16 PF had significantly higher systolic values in the immediate postoperative period and until discharge from intensive care than did patients with less anxiety. The implications of these results are examined.