Comfort level and factors affecting comfort in patients undergoing varicose vein surgery with spinal anesthesia

Background and Aim: Varicose veins are among the most common vascular diseases that affect the lower extremity veins due to venous hypertension and require treatment. Assessing the comfort level of patients undergoing surgical procedures is crucial for planning and implementing appropriate nursing interventions. Accordingly, this study was conducted to determine the comfort level of patients undergoing varicose vein surgery under spinal anesthesia and to identify the factors affecting their comfort. Material and Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 142 patients who were admitted to the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Department of a state hospital between 01.11.2023 and 01.05.2024. Data were collected using the "Patient Information Form", "Visual Analog Scale" and "Perianesthesia Comfort Scale". Results: The mean age of the participants was 49.36 ± 11.96 years, and 64.8% were female. It was determined that patients' overall comfort levels were above average, while pain related to surgical incision and headache related to spinal anesthesia were at a moderate level. Comfort levels were significantly higher among patients aged 61 and above, those who were married, and those who were retired (p<0.05). Patients with a chronic disease and those without a family history of varicose veins reported higher comfort levels (p<0.05). Additionally, individuals who did not experience fear of surgery, had no concerns about the surgery being unsuccessful, and reported positive emotional states in the operating room had significantly higher comfort levels (p<0.05). Conversely, patients who experienced postoperative nausea or discomfort due to urinary catheterization had significantly lower comfort levels (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings indicated that patients undergoing varicose vein surgery under spinal anesthesia had above-average comfort levels. Furthermore, a variety of sociodemographic, clinical, and perceptual factors were identified as determinants of patient comfort. Based on these findings, it is recommended that valid and reliable assessment tools be routinely used in clinical practice to evaluate patient comfort. In addition, further experimental studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of nursing intervention programs developed to enhance patient comfort