During the initial preoperative consultation, the failure of a patient to disclose their use of herbal medicine can complicate clinical anesthesia practice by increasing the risk of interactions and toxicity between different substances. This omission often occurs because patients might not regard herbal products as conventional drugs, and they may not realize the importance of informing their anesthesia provider about their use, especially when these are taken alongside prescription medications. Awareness of potential drug interactions is crucial, and we will explore the risks and drug interactions associated with commonly used herbals and anesthesia medications later.
In the United States, it's observed that surgical patients tend to use herbal medications more frequently than the general population, with 22% of those assessed in preoperative clinics reporting herbal medicine use. However, as Ang-Lee, Moss, and Yuan (2001) noted, over 70% of these patients did not mention their herbal medicine consumption during their standard preoperative evaluations. Several reasons may lead patients to withhold information about their herbal use. Common reasons include beliefs that the anesthesia provider might lack knowledge about herbal medicines, fear of judgment or prejudice against herbal treatments, or apprehension about discussing non-traditional therapies. Given these challenges, it is imperative for anesthesia providers to diligently inquire about herbal medicine usage during the preoperative history gathering to ensure patient safety (Yuan et al., 2001).
