You are doing preoperative teaching with a patient scheduled for surgery in 1 month. During the preoperative teaching, the patient gives you a list of medications she takes, the dosage, and frequency
Which of the following interventions provides the patient with the most accurate information?
A) Instruct the patient to stop taking St. John's wort at least 2 weeks prior to surgery due to its interaction with anesthetic agents.
B) Instruct the patient to continue taking ephedrine prior to surgery due to its effect on blood pressure.
C) Instruct the patient to discontinue synthroid due to its effect on blood coagulation and potential heart dysrrythmias.
D) Instruct the patient to continue any herbal supplements, and inform the patient that they have no effect on the surgical procedure.
Ans: A
Feedback: Because of the potential effects of herbal medications on coagulation and potential lethal interactions with other medications, the nurse must ask surgical patients specifically about the use of these agents, document their use, and inform the surgical team and anesthesiologist, anesthetist, or nurse anesthetist. Currently, it is recommended that the use of herbal products be discontinued 2 to 3 weeks before surgery. Patients with uncontrolled thyroid disorders are at risk for thyrotoxicosis and respiratory failure. The administration of synthroid is imperative in the preoperative period. The use of ephedrine in the preoperative phase can cause hypertension and should be avoided.
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