Brew before op 'could help patients'

Patients are usually forced to fast before operations

Relaxing the usual policy of "nil by mouth" before operations to allow caffeine-hooked patients a swift cuppa could be beneficial, one doctor believes.

Normally, patients are not allowed to eat or drink anything for hours before being wheeled into theatre.

However, writing in a newsletter for anaesthetists called "Sage", Dr Ross Kitson, a specialist registrar from the Stoke School of Anaesthesia, suggested that up to 12 hours without a caffeine fix might be adding to the stress of surgery for many patients, particularly the elderly.

It is known that withdrawal symptoms can contribute to post-operative problems like headaches and even confusion.

Dr Kitson said: "If the patient could stomach black tea or coffee, then I'd be happy as an anaesthetist to let them have a cuppa two hours before surgery, if I was assured by the ward that they hadn't had a splash of milk in the drink.

"My gut reaction, however, would be that the staff on the ward may take some time to adapt their thinking to this practice as I have met some staff who adhere to the policy to the point of omitting all oral medications on the day of surgery regardless."

No aches

In one study of patients, giving caffeine tablets prior to surgery led to no reports of headaches afterwards.

Equally effective was the practice of giving intravenous caffeine to some patients.

Other cravings among patients are taken seriously by hospital staff.

Heavy smokers in the intensive care unit are often given nicotine patches before taking away sedative medications and weaning them off artificial ventilators.

Caffeine withdrawal is now well-recognised, particularly among those with a high intake of coffee or tea.

For every cup of coffee the person drinks per day, the chance of a withdrawal headache grows by 12% - or 16% after surgery.

Newborn hangover

Other symptoms of caffeine withdrawal include fatigue, weakness, drowsiness, impaired concentration, depression, anxiety, irritability, and, in extreme cases, trembling, nausea and vomiting.

Heavily hooked people could find these symptoms start within a few hours of their last "fix", and last up to a week.

Caffeine withdrawal symptoms have even been reported in newborn babies whose mothers were heavy coffee drinkers during pregnancy.