Evaluation of Recovery Quality Following Different Anesthetic Techniques

Open Access

Abstract

Background: The choice of anesthetic technique may influence the quality of postoperative recovery, yet comparative data using validated recovery assessment tools remain limited. Understanding these differences is essential for optimizing perioperative care protocols and enhancing patient outcomes. Objective: To evaluate and compare the quality of recovery following different anesthetic techniques using a validated recovery scoring system. Methods & Materials: This prospective cohort study was conducted at Sherpur 250-bed District Sadar Hospital and Private Chamber, Bangladesh, from January to June 2025. A total of 67 adult patients undergoing elective surgery were enrolled using purposive sampling. Quality of recovery was assessed using the validated Quality of Recovery-40 (QoR-40) questionnaire at 24 hours postoperatively. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: The mean global QoR-40 score was 168.4 ± 14.2. Patients receiving regional anesthesia demonstrated significantly higher QoR-40 scores compared to those receiving general anesthesia (175.6 ± 10.8 vs. 161.2 ± 15.6, p<0.001). Regional anesthesia was associated with superior scores across all five dimensions of the QoR-40, particularly in physical comfort and pain domains. Conclusion: Regional anesthesia is associated with significantly better quality of early postoperative recovery compared to general anesthesia. These findings support the preferential use of regional techniques where clinically appropriate to optimize patient recovery and satisfaction.