PREANASTHETICS: A REVIEW ON CURRENT PRACTICE
Nandan H. N.*, Dr. Suresha B. S., Monisha M. N., Mazhar Anwar C.,
Mohammed Ismail and Uthkarsha Vinesh
ABSTRACT
The practice of preanaesthetic medication embarked upon soon after
ether and chloroform were introduced as general anesthetics in the
middle of the 19th century. Premedication was originally introduced to
facilitate induction of anaesthesia with agents, such as chloroform and
ether, that are irritant and produce copious amounts of secretions.
Preanaesthetic medications are a group of drugs administered before
anaesthesia to make it more pleasant and safe. The major objectives of
preanaesthetic medication are to decrease the stress response with
preservation of hemodynamic parameters, facilitate anaesthesia
induction and produce amnesia. Major concerns during surgical
procedures include anxiety among patients, post-operative pain, postoperative
nausea and vomiting and the risk of aspiration pneumonitis.
Preanaesthetic medicines are generally given to avoid the adverse events associated with
general anaesthesia, facilitate surgery and reduce the risk of post-operative complications.
The preoperative preparation of a patient for anaesthesia and surgery includes both
psychologic and pharmacologic components. The psychologic aspect of preoperative
preparation is provided by the anaesthesiologist’s visit and interview. In addition, a wide
spectrum of pharmacologic agents[e.g., barbiturates, benzodiazepines, major tranquilizers,
opioid (narcotic) analgesics, anticholinergics, histamine H2-blockers, gastrokinetic drugs] are
administered to facilitate the process of preoperative preparation. The preanaesthetic
medication correlates with various outcomes like patient’s clinical status, the type and
duration of operation, duration of post-operative recovery, post-operative analgesia requirement and hospital stay. Our study gives an insight to the various premedications used
before anaesthesia to minimize its side effects.
Keywords: Preanaesthetics, Anaesthesia, Psychologic aspect, Anaesthesiologist’s, Side effects, Hemodynamic parameters.
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