How should transdermal patches be managed before anesthesia?

How should transdermal patches be managed before anesthesia?

• A. Leave patches on as is
• B. Review patches and remove those that could affect intraoperative hemodynamics or drug interactions
• C. Apply new patches during surgery
• D. Replace patches with oral analgesics

Answer: (B)

Transdermal patches deliver medications steadily, and some of those drugs can influence heart rate, blood pressure, or interact with anesthetic agents. Before anesthesia, review every patch the patient is wearing and remove those that could affect intraoperative hemodynamics or interact with medications used during anesthesia. This helps prevent hypotension, bradycardia, or exaggerated sedation from residual drug effects, and allows appropriate pain control to be managed with other means. Leaving patches in place could lead to unpredictable drug levels and complications; applying new patches during surgery is impractical and risky; replacing them with oral analgesics may not provide equivalent or timely control.

Transdermal patches deliver medications steadily, and some of those drugs can influence heart rate, blood pressure, or interact with anesthetic agents. Before anesthesia, review every patch the patient is wearing and remove those that could affect intraoperative hemodynamics or interact with medications used during anesthesia. This helps prevent hypotension, bradycardia, or exaggerated sedation from residual drug effects, and allows appropriate pain control to be managed with other means. Leaving patches in place could lead to unpredictable drug levels and complications; applying new patches during surgery is impractical and risky; replacing them with oral analgesics may not provide equivalent or timely control.