Preanesthetic care. Intoxication and trauma.

On the basis of the above discussion, a number of useful guidelines appear for the anesthetic management of alcohol and drug abusers. 1. Because of the decreased ability of intoxicated patients to withstand hemorrhage, blood replacement therapy should probably be instituted earlier than in the nonintoxicated patient. 2. Because the chronic alcoholic may actually be iso-osmotically overhydrated, fluid therapy must be planned with care. 3. Because of the tendency to hypoglycemia, glucose should be added to the fluid management regimen. 4. Because of the enzyme induction effect of chronic ETOH ingestion, anesthetic agents that are in part metabolized (methoxyflurane, halothane, fluroxene) are perhaps best avoided. Increased ability to metabolize anesthetic agents appears to be associated with toxicity. 5. Because ETOH is a CNS depressant and has been shown to have amnesia-inducing properties, supplementation of nitrous oxide-relaxant technique with narcotics or other depressant drugs should be reduced, if not eliminated. 6. Because acutely intoxicated individuals are more prone to hypothermia, their core temperature should be monitored intraoperatively. All intravenous fluids should be warmed and a warming blanket should be employed, if necessary, to maintain body temperature. 7. Because of the sympathomimetic effect of many of the drugs, pulse and blood pressure can be misleading in the assessment of blood loss.