Herbal Supplements and Potential Risk for Surgical Patients

Abstract

Patients’ use of herbal and other dietary supplements and poor reporting of this to medical practitioners is widely documented in the literature. Many herbal supplements have potent pharmacological activity that can lead to potential adverse effects and drug interactions. The perioperative setting is a critical point in patient care for preventing these potential complications. A literature review was conducted regarding commonly used herbal and natural supplements and their potential for adverse effects in the surgical setting. Several herbal supplements or botanicals used by patients may, because of their chemical structure and pharmacokinetics, have adverse effects if used during the perioperative period. With the increasing use of herbal supplements by patients, it is critical for healthcare workers to screen patients pre-surgically for use of herbal and other natural supplements and to be knowledgeable about their potential adverse effects.