title: [Anaesthetic preoperative assessment of chronic medications and herbal medicine use: a multicenter survey].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to quantify the use of chronic medication and herbal remedies in the presurgical population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective multicenter survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult patients presenting for anaesthesia were directly asked if they were currently using chronic medication or herbal remedies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 1057 patients (age 54+/-17 yrs, woman 54%, ASA 2 [1-4], 74%) were taking one or more chronic medication. The most commonly used treatments were, in descending order angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin-II receptor blockers (15%), beta blockers (11%) and platelet inhibitors (10%). Also, 9% were taking one or more of the following herbal remedies known to interact with the perioperative period: valeriane, ginseng, ginkgo, St John's wort, echinacea and ephedra. Women and patients aged 40-70 yr were most likely to be taking a herbal product (p<0.001 and p<0.01 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic medication and herbal remedies are common in patients presenting for anaesthesia. Because of the potential interactions between anaesthetic drugs or techniques and such medication it is important for anaesthetists to be aware of their use.
authors.affiliation: Départements d'anesthésie-réanimation, CHU Avicenne, EA 3409, 93009 Bobigny, France. christophe.baillard@avc.aphp.fr
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baillard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gehan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sitbon
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Denantes
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Benhamou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cupa
authors.forename: C-M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Samama
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020900:Echinacea; D029789:Ephedra; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D006306:Health Surveys; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D020902:Hypericum; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D005894:Panax; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014632:Valerian
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000777:Anesthetics; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D028321:Plant Preparations; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors