surgical preparation

If both the surgical team and the person undergoing surgery have the option of significantly reducing blood loss during surgery, minimizing pre and post-surgery anxiety, reducing or eliminating post-surgery nausea and pain, and shortening the hospital stay, does it not make perfect sense to secure that option?

It is well known that reduction of stress and anxiety is a great compliment to overall health and vitality. As referenced below, much has been documented demonstrating how a good attitude going into surgery has a positive influence on surgical outcome. Numerous studies referenced below have also shown how specific hypnotic or guided imagery approaches to surgical preparation can diminish pre and post-surgical anxiety, reduce surgical blood loss, reduce post-surgical pain and need for medication, minimize post-surgical nausea and shorten the hospital stay and recovery time.

Because the evidence supporting the merits of hypnotic surgical preparation is so substantial, many insurance companies are recognizing the cost benefits and subsidizing this adjunct embellishment.

Hypnotic preparation for surgery can happen face to face with a qualified medical or mental health professional or with a prerecorded audio c.d. like the one offered here. The prerecorded material does not, of course, address specifics related to type of surgery or personal circumstance. Significant physiological and psychological themes involved with most surgery, however, are engaged in a fail-safe way with this audio c.d..

Bart Walsh, MSW, LCSW is the creator of this c.d. which draws from the face to face work he has done with people preparing for surgery over the past twenty years.

Baglini R, Sesana M, Capuano C. (2004). Effect of hypnotic sedation during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty on myocardial ischemia and cardiac sympathetic drive. Am J Cardiol Vol.93(8):1035-1038.

Beecher, H. K. (1955). The powerful placebo. Journal of the American Medical Association, 159, 1602-1606.

Blankfield, R.P. (1991). Suggestion, relaxation, and hypnosis as adjuncts in the care of surgery patients: A review of the literature. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, Vol.33(3): 172-86.

Brooks, P. (2001). The Use of Clinical Hypnosis to Accelerate the Appearance of Soft Tissue Wound Resolution and Patient Recovery in Post-Surgical Patients. Dissertation Abstracts International, 62(7B) 3412.

Chambless, D. L., & Ollendick, t. H. (2001). Empirically supported psychological interventions: Controversies and evidence. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 685-716.

Crawford, H.J., Gur, R.C., Skolnick B., Gur, R.E., & Benson, D.M. (1993). Effects of hypnosis on regional cerebral blood flow during ischemic pain with and without suggested hypnotic analgesia. International Journal of Psychophysiology, Vol. 15: 181-95.

Disbrow, E. A., Bennett, H. L., and Owings, J. T. (1993). Effect of preoperative suggestion on postoperative gastrointestinal motility. West J Med Vol. 158(5):488-92

Enqvist, B., Bjorklund, C., Engman, M., and Jakobsson, J. (1997). Preoperative hypnosis reduces postoperative vomiting after surgery of the breasts. A prospective, randomized and blinded study. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand Vol. 41(8):1028-32

Ewin, D.M. (1986). The effect of hypnosis and mental set on major surgery and burns. Psychiatric Annals, 16, 115-118.

Faymonville, M. E., Meurisse, M., & Fissette, J. (1999). Hypnosedation: A valuable alternative to traditional anaesthetic techniques. ACTA CHIRURGICA BELGICA, 99(4), 141-146.

Ginandes C, Brooks P, Sando W, et al. Can medical hypnosis accelerate post-surgical wound healing? Results of a clinical trial. Am J Clin Hypn Vol. 45(4):333-351.

Hilgard, E. R., & Hilgard, J. R. (1975). Hypnosis in the relief of pain. Los Altos, Ca.: Kaufman.

Keys, T. E. (1963). The history of surgical anesthesia. New York: Dover.

Mauer, M. H., Burnett, K. F., Ouellette, E. A., Ironson, G. H., and Dandes, H. M. (1999). Medical hypnosis and orthopedic hand surgery: pain perception, postoperative recovery, and therapeutic comfort. Int J Clin Exp Hypn Vol. 47(2):144-61

Kirsch, I. (1994). Clnical hypnosis as a nondeceptive placebo: Empirically derived tech-niques. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 37, 95-105.

Lang, E. V., Benotsch, E. G., Fick, L. J., Lutgendorf, S., Berbaum, M. L., Berbaum, K. S., Logan, H., & Spiegel, D. (2000). Adjunctive non-pharmacological analgesia for invasive medical procedures: A randomised trial. Lancet, Vol. 355(April 29), 1486-1500.

Lang, E. V., Joyce, J. S., Spiegel, D., Hamilton, D., & Lee, K. K. (1996). Self-hypnotic relaxation during interventional radiological procedures: Effects on pain perception and intravenous drug use. International Journal of Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis, 44, 106-119.

Lang, E. V., & Rosen, M. P. (1999). Impact of adjunct self-hypnotic relaxation on cost of IV conscious sedation during outpatient angiography: A decision analysis model. RA-DIOLOGY, 213P, 434.

Meurisse, M., Defechereux, T., Hamoir, E., Maweja, S., Marchettini, P., Gollogly, L., De-gauque, C., Joris, J., and Faymonville, M. E. (1999). Hypnosis with conscious sedation instead of general anaesthesia? Applications in cervical endocrine surgery. Acta Chir Belg Vol. 99(4):151-8

McGlashan, T. H., Evans, F. J., & Orne, M. T. (1969). The nature of hypnotic analgesia and placebo response to experimental pain. Psychosomatic Medicine, Vol. 31; 227-246.

Montgomery, G. H., DuHamel, K. N., & Redd, W. H. (2000). A meta-analysis of hyp-notically induced analgesia: How effective is hypnosis? International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, Vol. 48(2): 138-153.

Montgomery GH, David D, Winkel G, et al. (2002). The effectiveness of adjunctive hypnosis with surgical patients: a meta-analysis. Anesth Analg Vol.94(6):1639-1645.

Montgomery GH, Weltz CR, Seltz M, Bovbjerg DH. (2002). Brief presurgery hypnosis reduces distress and pain in excisional breast biopsy patients. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 50(1):17-32.

Rapkin, D. A., Straubing, M., and Holroyd, J. C. (1991). Guided imagery, hypnosis and recovery from head and neck cancer surgery: an exploratory study. Int J Clin Exp Hypn Vol. 39(4):215-26

Scott, D. L. (1976). Hypnosis in pedicle graft surgery. Br J Plast Surg Vol. 29(1):8-13

Staplers LJ, da Costa HC, Merbis MA, et al. (2005). Hypnotherapy in radiotherapy patients: a randomized trial. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Vol. 61(2):499-506.



		Hypnosis for Surgical Preparation
	A fail-safe application of hypnosis for optimal results
			Return to Peaceful Pilgrim
If both the surgical team and the person undergoing surgery have the option of significantly reducing blood loss during surgery, minimizing pre and post-surgery anxiety, reducing or eliminating post-surgery nausea and pain, and shortening the hospital stay, does it not make perfect sense to secure that option? It is well known that reduction of stress and anxiety is a great compliment to overall health and vitality. As referenced below, much has been documented demonstrating how a good attitude going into surgery has a positive influence on surgical outcome. Numerous studies referenced below have also shown how specific hypnotic or guided imagery approaches to surgical preparation can diminish pre and post-surgical anxiety, reduce surgical blood loss, reduce post-surgical pain and need for medication, minimize post-surgical nausea and shorten the hospital stay and recovery time. Because the evidence supporting the merits of hypnotic surgical preparation is so substantial, many insurance companies are recognizing the cost benefits and subsidizing this adjunct embellishment. Hypnotic preparation for surgery can happen face to face with a qualified medical or mental health professional or with a prerecorded audio c.d. like the one offered here. The prerecorded material does not, of course, address specifics related to type of surgery or personal circumstance. Significant physiological and psychological themes involved with most surgery, however, are engaged in a fail-safe way with this audio c.d.. Bart Walsh, MSW, LCSW is the creator of this c.d. which draws from the face to face work he has done with people preparing for surgery over the past twenty years. Baglini R, Sesana M, Capuano C. (2004). Effect of hypnotic sedation during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty on myocardial ischemia and cardiac sympathetic drive. Am J Cardiol Vol.93(8):1035-1038. Beecher, H. K. (1955). The powerful placebo. Journal of the American Medical Association, 159, 1602-1606. Blankfield, R.P. (1991). Suggestion, relaxation, and hypnosis as adjuncts in the care of surgery patients: A review of the literature. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, Vol.33(3): 172-86. Brooks, P. (2001). The Use of Clinical Hypnosis to Accelerate the Appearance of Soft Tissue Wound Resolution and Patient Recovery in Post-Surgical Patients. Dissertation Abstracts International, 62(7B) 3412. Chambless, D. L., & Ollendick, t. H. (2001). Empirically supported psychological interventions: Controversies and evidence. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 685-716. Crawford, H.J., Gur, R.C., Skolnick B., Gur, R.E., & Benson, D.M. (1993). Effects of hypnosis on regional cerebral blood flow during ischemic pain with and without suggested hypnotic analgesia. International Journal of Psychophysiology, Vol. 15: 181-95. Disbrow, E. A., Bennett, H. L., and Owings, J. T. (1993). Effect of preoperative suggestion on postoperative gastrointestinal motility. West J Med Vol. 158(5):488-92 Enqvist, B., Bjorklund, C., Engman, M., and Jakobsson, J. (1997). Preoperative hypnosis reduces postoperative vomiting after surgery of the breasts. A prospective, randomized and blinded study. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand Vol. 41(8):1028-32 Ewin, D.M. (1986). The effect of hypnosis and mental set on major surgery and burns. Psychiatric Annals, 16, 115-118. Faymonville, M. E., Meurisse, M., & Fissette, J. (1999). Hypnosedation: A valuable alternative to traditional anaesthetic techniques. ACTA CHIRURGICA BELGICA, 99(4), 141-146. Ginandes C, Brooks P, Sando W, et al. Can medical hypnosis accelerate post-surgical wound healing? Results of a clinical trial. Am J Clin Hypn Vol. 45(4):333-351. Hilgard, E. R., & Hilgard, J. R. (1975). Hypnosis in the relief of pain. Los Altos, Ca.: Kaufman. Keys, T. E. (1963). The history of surgical anesthesia. New York: Dover. Mauer, M. H., Burnett, K. F., Ouellette, E. A., Ironson, G. H., and Dandes, H. M. (1999). Medical hypnosis and orthopedic hand surgery: pain perception, postoperative recovery, and therapeutic comfort. Int J Clin Exp Hypn Vol. 47(2):144-61 Kirsch, I. (1994). Clnical hypnosis as a nondeceptive placebo: Empirically derived tech-niques. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 37, 95-105. Lang, E. V., Benotsch, E. G., Fick, L. J., Lutgendorf, S., Berbaum, M. L., Berbaum, K. S., Logan, H., & Spiegel, D. (2000). Adjunctive non-pharmacological analgesia for invasive medical procedures: A randomised trial. Lancet, Vol. 355(April 29), 1486-1500. Lang, E. V., Joyce, J. S., Spiegel, D., Hamilton, D., & Lee, K. K. (1996). Self-hypnotic relaxation during interventional radiological procedures: Effects on pain perception and intravenous drug use. International Journal of Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis, 44, 106-119. Lang, E. V., & Rosen, M. P. (1999). Impact of adjunct self-hypnotic relaxation on cost of IV conscious sedation during outpatient angiography: A decision analysis model. RA-DIOLOGY, 213P, 434. Meurisse, M., Defechereux, T., Hamoir, E., Maweja, S., Marchettini, P., Gollogly, L., De-gauque, C., Joris, J., and Faymonville, M. E. (1999). Hypnosis with conscious sedation instead of general anaesthesia? Applications in cervical endocrine surgery. Acta Chir Belg Vol. 99(4):151-8 McGlashan, T. H., Evans, F. J., & Orne, M. T. (1969). The nature of hypnotic analgesia and placebo response to experimental pain. Psychosomatic Medicine, Vol. 31; 227-246. Montgomery, G. H., DuHamel, K. N., & Redd, W. H. (2000). A meta-analysis of hyp-notically induced analgesia: How effective is hypnosis? International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, Vol. 48(2): 138-153. Montgomery GH, David D, Winkel G, et al. (2002). The effectiveness of adjunctive hypnosis with surgical patients: a meta-analysis. Anesth Analg Vol.94(6):1639-1645. Montgomery GH, Weltz CR, Seltz M, Bovbjerg DH. (2002). Brief presurgery hypnosis reduces distress and pain in excisional breast biopsy patients. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 50(1):17-32. Rapkin, D. A., Straubing, M., and Holroyd, J. C. (1991). Guided imagery, hypnosis and recovery from head and neck cancer surgery: an exploratory study. Int J Clin Exp Hypn Vol. 39(4):215-26 Scott, D. L. (1976). Hypnosis in pedicle graft surgery. Br J Plast Surg Vol. 29(1):8-13 Staplers LJ, da Costa HC, Merbis MA, et al. (2005). Hypnotherapy in radiotherapy patients: a randomized trial. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Vol. 61(2):499-506.