Take anything for their health, including:
• Medications. Many medications can affect anesthesia or pain
management. Research shows a certain class of antidepressant can
blunt the effects of some opioids. If patients take one of these antide-
pressants, the anesthetist may choose a different type of pain manage-
ment. While patients should continue to take some medications (such
as blood pressure medications) even during surgery, they may need to
pause others for a day or longer. Be sure to ask about all of their med-
ications and share that information with the anesthetist, who can then
determine the best course of action.
• Supplements. Certain supplements can interact with anesthesia.
Many people take ginkgo biloba to improve their memory or ginseng
as an immune system booster, but both nutraceuticals can increase
the risk of bleeding. Ask patients what supplements they take and the
dosage. Ideally patients should bring their supplements to their
presurgical appointment, or take a picture of the list of ingredients
with their phones.
Smoke. Let patients know that smoking damages the heart and
lungs, and can lead to breathing problems during or after sur-
gery. It also increases their risk of developing pneumonia, needing a
ventilator to help them breathe after surgery, and suffering a heart
attack during or after surgery. Smoking also reduces blood flow,
which slows healing and increases the chance of infection. Let them
know their anesthetist will likely ask them to stop smoking at least a
week or more before the procedure. (And because they'll heal faster if
they don't smoke while recovering, ask patients to kick the habit alto-
gether.)
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Anesthesia Alert
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