Abstract: Objective To explore the influence of different operating room environment on anxiety, serum corticosterone, adrenocorticotro, blood pressure, and heart rate of perioperative patients during waiting period when undergoing knee arthroscopy. Methods One hundred and nine patients undergoing elective knee arthroscopy in our hospital from June 2021 to May 2022 were divided into control group (n=53) and study group (n=56) according to the visiting time. Self-rated anxiety and serum cortisol and corticotropin level in both groups on the preoperative visit day (T0) and right after entering the operating room (T2) were observed; blood pressure and heart rate on the preoperative visit day (T0), the morning of the operation in the ward (T1), right after entering the operation room (T2) and before anesthesia (T3) were monitored. Results There was statistically significance in terms of anxiety score, serum cortisol, and adrenocorticotropin level between the two groups (P<0.05). The interaction effect between time points and groups was significant (P<0.05). Further simple effect analysis showed that there was no statistically significance at T0, but the difference was significant at T2 (P<0.05). As time passed, there was an upward trend in anxiety score, serum cortisol, and adrenocorticotropin level. Pairwise comparison showed that anxiety score, serum cortisol, and adrenocorticotropin level in the study group was lower than those in the control group, showing statistical significance (P<0.05). The difference in blood pressure between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The interaction effect between time points and groups was significant (P<0.001). Further simple effect analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference in blood pressure in the two groups at T0 and T1 and T2 (P>0.05), but it showed difference at T3 in the two groups (P<0.05). As time passed, there was an upward trend in blood pressure, and pairwise comparison showed that blood pressure at T3 in the study group was lower than that in the control group, showing statistical significance (P<0.05). The difference in heart rate between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The interaction effect between time points and groups was significant (P<0.001). Further simple effect analysis showed that there was no statistical difference in heart rate between the two groups at T0 and T1 (P>0.05), but the difference between the two groups at T2 and T3 was statistically significant (P<0.05). As time passed, there was an upward trend, and pairwise comparison showed that heart rate in the study group at T2 and T3 was lower than that in the control group, showing statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion The upgraded operating room can effectively alleviate the anxiety, reduce surgical stress reactions, and stabilize blood pressure and heart rate of patients undergoing knee arthroscopy during the waiting period.

Key words: operating room environment, arthroscopy of knee, anxiety, stress response