Pre‐operative anxiety and serum potassium

Abstract

Small decreases in serum potassium in a study of 200 pre‐operative patients were demonstrated in those who had an increase in anxiety, as measured on a linear analogue anxiety scale, in the 24 hours before anaesthesia. The possible aetiology and implications of this change are discussed. The combination of temazepam and a pre‐operative visit by the anaesthetist effectively reduced pre‐anaesthetic anxiety in 60% of patients. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved