Positive Health Online

Abstract

SCHULZ-STUBNER, Klinik fur Anasthesiologie und Intensivmedizin des Kreiskrankenhauses Grevenbroich Germany write that hypnosis can be an alternative to cerebral sedatives, especially in high-risk and fearful patients, with no side effects for sedation during regional anaesthesia.

Background

Methodology

Patients experienced with techniques such as Jakobson's progressive muscle relaxation are very good hypnosis candidates, but hypnosis is contraindicated in patients with psychotic disorders, major depression and hallucinogenic drug abuse. The authors describe his personal method of hypnosis used in 10 cases, based upon fixation and suggestive techniques including muscle relaxation, temperature sensation and the creation of emotional pictures.

Results

Hypnosis was successful in 6 out of 10 cases, not completely successful in 2 cases where hypnosis was interrupted after 30 minutes and was unsuccessful in 2 individuals. Vegetative stress symptoms such as tachycardia and shivering ceased immediately following induction. Described are 4 individuals where hypnosis was used during spinal anaesthesia for knee and hip surgery or brachial plexus block for open fixation of Colles' fracture.

Conclusion

Because hypnosis requires more time 1545 minutes to inform and test patients, and special organisational conditions, it may not become a routine procedure, but yet hypnosis offers a good alternative in selected cases.

References

Schulz-Stubner S. Hypnosis a side effect-free alternative to medical sedation in regional anaesthesia. Anaesthesist 45(10): 9659. Oct 1996.