Perioperative considerations in patients with excessive ingestion of Attaya (green tea) at Kanifing General Hospital, The Gambia

Abstract

Introduction: the Attaya is a type of green tea frequently consumed in the Gambia. Its intake is considered a ritual of hospitality in their culture. Objective: to know the perioperative implications of excessive Attaya intake in patients undergoing elective surgery. Method: a cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in 50 patients with excessive ingestion of green tea, who would undergo elective non-cardiac surgery, at the General Hospital of Kanifing; Gambia, from January to December, 2020. Results: there was a predominance of males, as well as the age group from 61 to 70 years; the highest percentage of patients consumed 5 to 7 cups of tea daily. On the preoperative assessment, patients frequently reported insomnia, headaches, and nervousness. When evaluating liver function, enzymes as alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase were elevated in some cases; also, prolongation in coagulation parameters like of bleeding time and clotting time was found in several patients. Intraoperative complications were
sinus tachycardia, supraventricular extrasystole. Conclusions: intraoperative complications could be related to the excessive intake of green tea since its components are related to toxicity due to interaction in enzymatic processes and cell damage, interference with biological response systems and metabolic reactions. It is recommended to stop the intake of green tea at least 3 weeks before any elective surgical procedure.