title: The effect of the kampo medicine yokukansan on preoperative anxiety and sedation levels.
abstract: Background. Preoperative anxiety can lead to unfavorable physiological response such as tachycardia and hypertension. Prevention of preoperative anxiety improves surgical outcome and decreases inpatient stay. Yokukansan is one of prescriptions in Kampo, traditional Japanese herbal medicine, and is known to exert anxiolytic effects. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of diazepam and Yokukansan on preoperative anxiety, salivary amylase activity, and sedation levels. Methods. Seventy American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II patients presenting for hemicolectomy under general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia were enrolled. The Diazepam group received diazepam 5 mg orally and the Yokukansan group received Yokukansan 2.5 g orally. Results. Although levels of anxiety and salivary amylase activity were not different between the two groups, the modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation Scale of the Yokukansan group was significantly higher compared to that of the Diazepam group. Conclusion. Yokukansan alleviated preoperative anxiety without undesirable sedation, when compared with diazepam.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Toki General Hospital, Gifu 509-5193, Japan ; Multidisciplinary Pain Centre, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, 21 Karimata, Nagakutecho, Aichigun, Aichi 480-1195, Japan.
authors.forename: Young-Chang
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2689-866X
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Toki General Hospital, Gifu 509-5193, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kawanishi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Toki General Hospital, Gifu 509-5193, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakakima
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Toki General Hospital, Gifu 509-5193, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sueoka
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Toki General Hospital, Gifu 509-5193, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Toki General Hospital, Gifu 509-5193, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tawada
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Toki General Hospital, Gifu 509-5193, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Toki General Hospital, Gifu 509-5193, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banno
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Toki General Hospital, Gifu 509-5193, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitomi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Pain Centre, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, 21 Karimata, Nagakutecho, Aichigun, Aichi 480-1195, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishihara
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Pain Centre, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, 21 Karimata, Nagakutecho, Aichigun, Aichi 480-1195, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5320-8134
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Pain Centre, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, 21 Karimata, Nagakutecho, Aichigun, Aichi 480-1195, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsunori
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4521-7639
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikemoto