Pemedication in preventive analgesia, achievement of psycho-emotional comfort, and alleviation of preoperative anxiety in elective surgery: a prospective controlled study

Background: The role of premedication in preventive analgesia, achieving psycho-emotional comfort, and alleviating preoperative anxiety in elective surgery remains insufficiently studied. This is evidenced by the lack of clear recommendations regarding its timing and vague criteria for its administration. Aim: To evaluate the effects of premedication on subjective and clinical outcomes during the perioperative period in elective surgery patients. Materials and methods: A prospective controlled study was conducted at two multidisciplinary clinics in Tyumen from December 12 to 20, 2023. Only patients seeking elective surgical care were included. After screening based on eligibility criteria, 42 patients scheduled for elective surgical procedures on the designated study day were enrolled. A novel checklist was developed for the study, and descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were employed. Results: Evening premedication was more effective than morning premedication in reducing fear and anxiety (r=0.51 for evening and r=0.32 for morning premedication). Evening premedication not only alleviated preoperative anxiety but also reduced pain impulse intensity from the surgical wound under standard postoperative pain management (p=0.0001). Additionally, statistically significant differences (p=0.03) in glycemia levels indicated better adaptation to surgical stress, supporting the use of evening premedication as a method of preventive analgesia, which was not observed with premedication administered immediately before the procedure. Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrated the significant role of evening premedication in mitigating adverse perioperative phenomena in elective surgery patients. Attention to the timing and role of premedication may enhance treatment effectiveness and improve patient comfort during hospitalization.