Anesthesia for athletes using performance-enhancing drugs.

Anabolic-androgenic steroids are used in the treatment of numerous medical conditions, including Fanconi's anemia, hypogonadism, hereditary angioedema, hypopituitarism and impotence. However, because of their potent anabolic properties, athletes began to use them to enhance body strength, size and endurance. Despite warnings from the medical and scientific communities of dangerous side effects such as Wilm's tumor, hepatocellular carcinoma, stroke and myocardial infarction, some athletes continue to use anabolic steroids. Among the numerous research publications, only one case report was found which related difficulties in anesthesia administration. This paper presents the physiologic changes associated with anabolic steroid ingestion and applies these changes to the administration of anesthesia.