Hydroxyzine premedication--does it provide better anxiolysis than a placebo?

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Pre-operative anxiety is a common concern for surgical patients.
• Effective anxiolysis can improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.
• Assessing the efficacy of pharmacological interventions and routine patient interactions is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the anxiolytic efficacy of hydroxyzine versus placebo for pre-operative anxiety in female surgical patients.
• To evaluate the anxiolytic effect of a routine pre-operative visit.
• To assess the impact on hemodynamic parameters.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, randomized, prospective, controlled trial was conducted.
• Sixty female patients (ASA I-III) received either hydroxyzine or placebo orally as premedication.
• Anxiety was measured using visual analogue scales (VAS), and hemodynamic parameters were monitored.

Main Results:

• Both hydroxyzine and placebo significantly reduced anxiety (P < 0.05 and P < 0.03, respectively).
• No statistically or clinically significant difference in anxiolysis was found between hydroxyzine and placebo.
• The pre-operative visit did not demonstrate a significant anxiolytic effect, and hemodynamic parameters were similar between groups.

Conclusions:

• Hydroxyzine, at the studied dose and interval, offered no superior anxiolysis compared to placebo.
• Routine pre-operative visits were not found to significantly reduce patient anxiety.
• Further research may explore alternative anxiolytic strategies or optimize current protocols.