ANTIHISTAMINES HELP ANESTHESIA

Prophylaxis with antihistamines as part of general anesthetic management may help reduce clinical disturbances associated with anesthesia and surgery, according to a study conducted by Wilfried Lorenz, of the institute of theoretical surgery, Phillips University, Marburg, Germany.

Histamine is quite commonly released during anesthesia and surgery, and occasionally causes ill effects, such as erthymia, bronchospam and hypotension, according to Dr Lorenz. After induction of anesthesia and preoperative loading with either Ringer solution or Haemacell, the patients were randomized to receive antihistamine prophylaxis with dimethidine plus cimetidine, or placebo.

The authors report that clinically relevant or life-threatening disturbances occurred in 15 (including four life-threatening events) of 57 patients in the placebo/haemacell group and five of the 59 placebo-/Ringer group. In the antihistamine-treated groups combined, only one patient out of 115 experienced disturbance.