Definition

Irrespective of the nature of the surgical procedure in question, most people involved may be anxious about the fact that a medical act is being performed on a part or organ of their body.

Uncertainty about the outcome of the operation therefore causes more or less intense distress in certain individuals, and it should be noted that this distress is even greater when the patient is told that he or she is likely to die during or after the operation.

In this case, the anxiety felt can be accompanied by a variety of disorders, mainly characterised by tremors or sensations of contraction in the throat.