Decreasing Preoperative Anxiety in Patients with Newly Available Multimodal Approaches-A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Psychology
• Perioperative Medicine

Background:

• Preoperative anxiety affects a significant majority of adult patients undergoing surgery.
• Excessive preoperative anxiety can increase the risk of perioperative complications.
• Effective management strategies are crucial for patient safety and outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for reducing preoperative anxiety.
• To explore the efficacy and applicability of various anxiety-reducing methods.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review of existing literature on preoperative anxiety management.
• Identification and synthesis of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.
• Discussion of supportive relationships, information provision, and psychotherapeutic techniques.

Main Results:

• Pharmacological options include benzodiazepines, ketamine, and fentanyl; antidepressants require longer-term use.
• Non-pharmacological methods encompass supportive relationships, information, virtual reality, breathing techniques, music therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
• Essential oils and a holistic approach integrating interventions are also discussed.

Conclusions:

• A range of interventions exist for managing preoperative anxiety.
• Non-pharmacological methods offer accessible options for diverse patient populations.
• Further research is needed to determine optimal, feasible interventions for specific patient groups.