You are doing a preoperative assessment on a patient going to surgery. The patient informs you that he ingests 5 to 10 ounces of alcohol each day and has for the last 15 years. What postoperative difficulties can the nurse anticipate for this patient?
A) Delirium tremens immediately following surgery
B) Delirium tremens within 72 hours after his last alcohol drink
C) Delirium tremens upon administration of general anesthesia
D) Delirium tremens 1 week after his last alcohol drink
Ans: B
Feedback: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (ie, delirium tremens) may be anticipated between 48 and 72 hours after alcohol withdrawal and is associated with a significant mortality rate when it occurs postoperatively.
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