Anesthesia and the Addict

1. Anesthesia and the Addict Howard F. Armour CRNA, MS

2. Definitions Substance Abuse � Self Administration deviating from accepted medical or social use. Physical dependence � drug is necessary for normal physiological function or to prevent withdrawal. Withdrawal � rebound in physiological systems modified by drug. Tolerance � increased doses of drug required to produce same effects as smaller doses did previously.

3. Problems Cross Tolerance Chronic Abuse � Increased requirements Acute Abuse � Decreased requirements Withdrawal

4. Drug Overdose Leading cause of unconsciousness in ER Secure Airway � cuffed tube Monitor Temperature for Hypothermia Hemodialysis

5. Alcohol Disease � genetic, psychosocial and environmental factors Affects 10,000,000 Americans � 200,000 deaths annually Up to 1/3 of adult patients have medical problems related to alcohol

6. Risk Factors Male Gender Family History

7. Treatment Abstinence Disulfram Side effects Drug Interactions

8. Withdrawal Syndrome Early Symptoms Treatment � resume alcohol ingestion or administer a barbiturate or benzodiazipine Protect the Airway Delerium Tremens

9. Management of Anesthesia Disulfram Hepatoxicity Drug Interactions Hypotension Polyneuropathy Avoid Alcohol Skin Prep

10. Management of Anesthesia Pathophysiological Changes Enzyme Induction/inhibition Anemia Thrombocytopenia Hypoprotinemia Esophageal Varices Cardiomyopathy Decreased Plasmacholinesterase Elevated Transaminases

11. Management of Anesthesia Intoxicated Patient Increased Risk of Aspiration � RSI Decreased Anesthetic Requirements

12. Cocaine 30,000,000 have used cocaine 5,000,000 use it regularly Extremely addictive

13. Side Effects Due to enhanced sympathetic nervous system activity Lung Damage associated with smoking Nasal atrophy Death from apnea, seizures or cardiac dysrhythmias

14. Management of Anesthesia If intoxicated � consider vulnerability to ischemia or dysrhytmias Intoxicated � Increased MAC Thrombocytopenia Use Neosynephrine for hypotension Maximum dose of Cocaine topically is 1.5 mg/kg for nasotracheal intubation

15. Opioids Possible to become addicted in less than 14 days if drug is administered in increasing doses Numerous associated medical problems Cellulitis Tetanus Endocarditis Hepatitis AIDS

16. Opioids Tolerance Overdose � Respiratory depression Withdrawal Syndrome Prevention � Narcotics or Methadone Clonidine

17. Management of Anesthesia Preop � Narcotics or Methadone IV Access Volatile Anesthetic with Narcotics Hypotension ? Lighten Anesthesia Fluids Vasopressor Steroids Narcotics

18. Barbituates Not associated with major pathophysiological changes Tolerance � Lethal dose does not increase at the same rate Withdrawal - seizures

19. Management of Anesthesia Cross tolerance to anesthetics? Acute administration decreases anesthetic requirements Microenzyme induction Venous access is a problem in IV barbituate users

20. Benzodiazipines Symptoms of withdrawal slower to develop than with Barbituates Anesthetic considerations similar to those of chronic barbiturate user Specific antagonist - Fluazemil

21. Amphetamines Stimulate release of catecholamines Chronic abuse results in depletion of catecholamines

22. Management of Anesthesia Intoxicated patient may exhibit hypertension, tachycardia, increased temperature and increased MAC Chronic use depletes catecholamines � may attenuate response to indirect vasopressors Treat hypotension with fluids and neosynephrine

23. Marijuana Increased sympathetic nervous system Tachycardia Chronic use may lead to pulmonary problems May have plasmacholinesterase deficiency

24. Management of Anesthesia Treat tachycardia with beta bockers Barbiturate and ketamine sleep time prolonged Opioid respiratory depression potentiated