A patient is seen at the health care providers office several weeks before hip surgery for preoperative assessment. The patient reports use of echinacea, saw palmetto, and glucosamine/chondroitin. The nurse should

• A. ascertain that there will be no interactions with anesthetic agents.
• B. discuss the supplement use with the patients health care provider.
• C. teach the patient that these products may be continued preoperatively.
• D. advise the patient to stop the use of all herbs and supplements at this time.

Answer: (B)

Herbal supplements can influence anesthesia and perioperative management, so all substances a patient takes need careful review before surgery. Echinacea, saw palmetto, and glucosamine/chondroitin may affect immune response, bleeding risk, or drug metabolism, and some can interact with anticoagulants, antiplatelets, or anesthetic agents. Because the safest plan depends on the specific supplement and the individual patient, the nurse should bring this information to the health care provider who can decide whether to discontinue, continue, or adjust timing. The nurse cannot assume there will be no interactions, nor can they definitively say to continue or stop all supplements without medical guidance. Encourage the patient to provide a complete list of all supplements at preoperative visits.