Summary: Akhlaghi M, Shabanian G, Rafieian-Kopaei M, Parvin N, Saadat M, Akhlaghi M – Citrus aurantium Blossom and Preoperative
Anxiety.
Background and objectives: Reducing anxiety is very important before operation. Preoperative visit and use of premedication are popular
methods to achieve this goal, but the role of anxiolytic premedication remains unclear and postoperative side-effects may result from routine
premedication. Citrus aurantium is used as an alternative medicine in some countries to treat anxiety, and recently the anxiolytic role of this
medicinal plant was established in an animal model study. The aim of this study was to assess the anxiolytic effect of Citrus aurantium blossom
on preoperative anxiety.
Methods: We studied 60 ASA I patients undergoing minor operation. In a randomized double-blind design, two groups of 30 patients received
one of the following oral premedication two hours before induction of anesthesia: 1) Citrus aurantium blossom distillate 1 mL.kg-1 (C-group); 2)
Saline solution 1 mL.kg-1 as placebo (P-group). Anxiety was measured before and after premedication using the Spielberger state-trait anxiety
inventory (STAI-state) and the Amsterdam preoperative anxiety and information scale (APAIS) before operation.
Results: After premedication, both the STAI-state and the APAIS scales were decreased in C-group (p < 0.05); while exhibiting no significant
changes in P-group.
Conclusions: Citrus aurantium blossom may be effective in terms of reduction in preoperative anxiety before minor operation
