[Perioperative management of patients on long-term administration of psychotropic drugs].

Abstract

We experienced perioperative management of thirty two surgical patients complicated with either schizophrenia or depression on long-term administration of psychotropic drugs during a period of three years from 1989 through 1991. They underwent various operative procedures under either general anesthesia or epidural anesthesia. Mental confusion was most frequently encountered in immediate postoperative period. The longer the patients had been treated with psychotropic drugs, the more postoperative complications were observed. We lost four patients within two weeks postoperatively. They all underwent laparotomy and had been treated with psychotropic drugs for a prolonged period. No significant association between the types of anesthesia and postoperative complications was observed. Surgical patients on long-term administration of psychotropic drugs should be managed carefully particularly during postoperative period.