Addiction and anaesthesia

Abstract EN

Significant numbers of patients are seen for surgery and anesthesia with a history of chronic substance abuse.

However, little is known about how these substances influences anesthetic physiology and pharmacology.

Abuse of substances may involve a socially acceptable drug (e.g., alcohol, tobacco), a medically prescribed drug (e.g., diazepam), or an illegal substance (e.g., cocaine).

Knowledge of a patient’s substance abuse prior to administration of analgesia or anesthesia may prevent adverse drug interactions, predict tolerance to anesthetic agents, and / or facilitate the recognition of drug withdrawal.

As the neurobehavioral effects of cocaine may increase the likelihood that a user will receive violent fatal injuries and is more prone to have emergency surgery, so we stressed here on this substance.

Cocaine abuse is associated with multi-target organ involvement, including the cardiovascular, respiratory, neurologic, and hematological systems.

Its use during pregnancy is also an independent contributor to the risk of placental abruption, preterm labor and stillbirth.