Calming words as effective as preop medication to relax patients

Editor's Note

A few calming words from an anesthesiologist are as effective as medication in relaxing patients before anesthesia and surgery, finds research presented at the Anesthesiology 2015 annual meeting.

Researchers compared conversational hypnosis (ie, talking quietly and positively and focusing the patient’s attention on something other than the upcoming procedure) to the use of hydroxyzine (Atarax) in 100 patients before hand surgery.

Patients measured an average Analgesia/Nociception Index score of 51 before and 78 after hypnosis, compared with 63 before and 70 after medication (100 point index based on heart rate from 0 [extremely anxious and stressed] to 100 [completely relaxed].

The average comfort scale of hypnosis patients was 6.7 before and 9.3 after, while patients who had medication averaged 7.8 before and 8.3 after (scale ranging from 0 [no comfort] to 10 [maximal comfort].

SAN DIEGO - Anxious patients heading into surgery often receive medication to ease their fears, but a few calming words from their physicians might actually be more effective medicine. In fact, "conversational hypnosis" as the approach is known, may do a better job than pills for relaxing patients before anesthesia and surgery, suggests research being presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY™ 2015 annual meeting.