Around 85% of patients who participated in a survey shortly after day surgery admitted to being anxious about receiving a general anaesthetic.

Approx 17% of respondents stated that they were extremely anxious, 22% said they were quite anxious, 46% said they were a little anxious and 15% experienced no anxiety at all.

Major worries included dying while asleep, not waking up after surgical operation, waking up during surgery and anxiety while waiting to go into surgery or arriving at the theatre door.

Mark Mitchell, senior lecturer in the Faculty of Health and Social Care at the University of Salford in Britain, said, "Our survey underlines the importance of patients receiving planned and timely information about anaesthesia, prior to the day of surgery, in order to limit their anxiety."

"This should include information about how anaesthesia is managed, the notion of carefully controlled and supervised anaesthesia and dispelling misconceptions associated with general anaesthesia."

Patients scheduled for elective surgery in three day surgery units in England were invited to take part in the survey and 460 patients - a response rate of 37 percent - completed the questionnaire within 24 to 48 hours of surgery.

The patients who participated were aged between 18 and 75, with an average age of 46, and 59% were female.

Most had experienced gynaecological, general, orthopaedic, urological and ear, nose and throat surgery.

The patients were asked to specify their anxiety levels about 24 different issues.

The results showed that the top three fears that made patients extremely anxious were the thought of not waking up (26 percent), dying while asleep (25 percent) and waking up during surgery (20 percent).

About 41% said that they didn't like the thought of having to put their trust in strangers and 12% felt very anxious about this, said a University of Salford release.

The findings of the study were published in the May issue of the Journal of Advanced Nursing. (With Inputs from Agencies)