Effect of Yokukansan on preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain in mandibular third molar extraction: A pilot study

Abstract

AbstractObjectivesManaging perioperative anxiety improves postoperative recovery significantly by reducing postoperative pain. However, little is known about association between preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain in oral surgical procedures. In the present study, we examined the effect between preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain in mandibular third molar extraction and the anxiolytic effect of Yokukansan (YKS) during the perioperative period.Materials and methodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study from September 2021 to May 2022. For patients with a complaint of insomnia on the day before surgery, 2.5 g per package of YKS was administered before sleep on the day before surgery. Twelve patients were administered YKS, and 23 patients were not (non‐YKS).ResultsPerioperative anxiety was assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and amylase in saliva, and perioperative pain was assessed by the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and the total number of times pain medication. There were no significant differences in HADS and amylase in saliva between the YKS and non‐YKS. The median postoperative NRS was 5 for YKS and 7 for non‐YKS. The maximum use of pain medication was 16 in YKS and 24 in non‐YKS. Although no significant difference was observed in the anxiolytic effects and the improvement of postoperative pain during the perioperative period of mandibular third molar extraction between patients who took YKS and those who did not, NRS and the maximum use of pain medication were less in the YKS patients.ConclusionsTherefore, YKS may be useful for managing postoperative pain through the preoperative anxiolytic effect in oral surgical procedures.