Breath-holding test may help assess risk of severe pain after laparoscopic gynecological surgery, suggests study

The issue of managing pain after surgery remains important, even with advancements like laparoscopy. Research shows that many patients still experience moderate to severe pain post-surgery. Recently, experts have been looking at how baroreflex sensitivity affects pain perception and relief. They found that a simple test, where patients hold their breath as long as possible during an inhale, can non-invasively and accurately assess the health of the cardiorespiratory system. This test helps identify patients who have reduced baroreflex sensitivity.

The study aimed to see how the breath-holding test is related to postoperative pain and to create a model for predicting pain after laparoscopic gynecological surgery.

Data from 489 patients who had gynecological laparoscopy at the Kuban State Medical University Clinic between August 2019 and September 2023 were analyzed.

Severe postoperative pain was reported by 146 patients (29.9%). The length of time patients could hold their breath was significantly correlated with their pain scores (NRS) upon admission to the PACU at all times during the study (ranging from -0.15 to -0.21). Logistic regression analysis showed that scores on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the duration of surgery, breath-holding time, and whether the surgery was for endometriosis affected the risk of severe postoperative pain (NRS 7-10), with an AUROC of 0.809.

The breath-holding test, combined with other factors, may help assess the risk of severe postoperative pain after laparoscopic gynecological surgery.

Reference:

Alexey Dmitriev, Nikita Trembach, Breath-holding Test in the Prognosis of Postoperative Pain in Laparoscopic Gynecology: Observational Cohort Study, The Open Anesthesia Journal, DOI: 10.2174/0125896458296522240404043901.