The effect on traumatic stress disorder of peripheral block anaesthesia performed in diabetic foot surgery

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of peripheral block anaesthesia performed in diabetic foot surgery on traumatic stress disorder, psychological stress, and patient satisfaction. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 85 patients in the Diabetic Foot Clinic of Gulhane Training and Research Hospital between April 2021 and March 2022. The data were collected using a Sociodemographic Data Collection Form, the Impact of Event Scale-revised (IES-R) to determine stress, and a Patient Satisfaction Evaluation Form. Evaluation was made of 85 patients, comprising 77.6% males and 22.4% females with a mean age of 60.93±13.17 years and mean duration of diabetes of 15.46±7.05 years. According to the diabetic foot wound classifications, 51.3% of the wounds were WAGNER Grade 3 and 69.4% were PEDIS Grade 2. Minor amputation was performed on 58.8% of the patients. The IES-R scale total points were median 11.0 (4.0-21.0). As the education level of the patients increased, so there was an increase in the IES-R subscale points of Intrusion and Hyperarousal (p=0.046, p=0.008). The Hyperarousal subscale points of patients who underwent minor amputation were determined to be increased (p=0.049). The results of this study showed that peripheral block anaesthesia in diabetic foot surgery created psychological stress in the patients but did not lead to traumatic stress disorder. Especially for patients with a university or postgraduate education level, preoperative information about the anaesthesia and wound care presented by nurses and other healthcare professionals would be able to significantly decrease the stress levels of patients who are to undergo diabetic foot surgery, including minor amputation, and thus the efficacy of the treatment process would be increased.