title: Use of complementary and alternative medicines by surgical patients.
abstract: This study examined the frequency of surgical patient use of complementary and alternative medicines prior to surgery. After conducting a literature review on the known effects of alternative medicines, we evaluated their potential interactions with anesthetics. At the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colo, we surveyed 500 elective surgical outpatients about alternative medicines taken during the 2 weeks prior to surgery. Of the 500 patients surveyed, 51% preoperatively took herbs, vitamins, dietary supplements, or homeopathic medicines (range, 1-22 per patient). Substances from 2 or more categories of alternative medicines (herbs, vitamins, dietary supplements, or homeopathic medicines) were consumed by 24% of patients. Twenty-four percent of surveyed patients consumed 50 different herbs, 41% took 9 types of vitamins, 44% took 31 types of dietary supplements, and 1% of patients took the homeopathic arnica. Classification by potential adverse effects revealed that 27% of surgical patients consumed alternative medicines that may inhibit coagulation, affect blood pressure (12%), cause sedation (9%), have cardiac effects (5%), or alter electrolytes (4%). Greater communication, knowledge, and scientific research are needed to safely integrate complementary and alternative medicines in the future management of the surgical patient.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, USA.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Norred
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zamudio
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Palmer
mesh_terms: D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000009:adverse effects; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003120:Colorado; D004347:Drug Interactions; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012651:Self Medication / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics