PSYCHOLOGICAL AND CARDIOVASCULAR PREDICTORS OF ANESTHESIA INDUCTION, OPERATIVE AND POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS IN MINOR GYNECOLOGICAL SURGERY

This study aimed to clarify the pre-operative-personality-post-operati ve-recovery association by considering anaesthetic variables. Addition ally, the work investigated the relationships between psychological an d cardiovascular functioning and anaesthetic induction difficulties an d operative problems. Two minor gynaecological procedures were evaluat ed (dilatation and curettage, laparoscopy) which differ greatly in ana esthetic and operative techniques. Psychological factors predicted car diovascular responding immediately prior to the induction of anaesthes ia, and combinations of cardiovascular and psychological variables wer e associated with anaesthetic induction, operative and post-operative problems. Health locus of control and worry concerning the various sta ges of the operation emerged as the most consistent psychological pred ictors of peri-operative outcome in both procedures.