The anxiolytic effect of pregabalin in outpatients undergoing minor orthopaedic surgery.

Preoperative anxiety can increase postoperative pain and is therefore important to avoid. Different approaches have already been tested for preoperative anxiolysis. Gabapentinoids might be a useful alternative to benzodiazepines.

Out-of-hospital auricular acupressure in elder patients with hip fracture: a randomized double-blinded trial.

Objectives: Auricular acupressure is known to decrease the level of anxiety in patients during ambulance transport. The purpose of this randomized, double-blind, sham control study was to determine whether auricular acupressure can decrease not only the level of anxiety but also the level of pain in a group of elder patients with acute hip fracture.

Methods: With the assistance of the Vienna Red Cross, 38 patients with acute hip fracture were enrolled into this study.