Premedication in elective adult general surgical patients at the Kenyatta National Hospital
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the practice of preoperative premedication in adult
elective general surgical patients in Kenya.
Design: Cross sectional study.
Setting: Kenyatta National Hospital.
Subjects: Seventy five adult elective general surgical patients.
Results: Nineteen percent of patients had their premedication prescriptions
written by staff from the department of anaesthesia while 81% of patients
had their premedication prescriptions written by staff from surgery. Twentyone
percent of patients got a preanaesthetic review while 79% did not. All
patients had standard premedication with atropine 0.6 mg and pethidine 50
mg both given intramuscular. Five percent of patients had induction of
anaesthesia half an hour after premedication, 27% had induction 1 hour
post premedication while 68% of patients had induction over 2 hours post
premedication. Eight percent of patients had hypertension, 4% renal failure,
3 % ischaemic heart disease, 3 % asthma, 3% had diabetes mellitus, and 28
% were elderly.
Conclusion: The practice of premedication is poorly done at Kenyatta
National Hospital. Most patients are given .atropine and pethidine as standard
premedication regardless of primary pathology, concurrent disease,
concurrent drug therapy, weight or age. There are no protocols/guidelines
for premedication at the moment.
Citation
M.Med (Anaesthesia) ThesisSponsorhip
University of NairobiPublisher
Department of Medicine, University of Nairobi
Description
Master of Medicine Thesis