An alcohol-intoxicated patient with a penetrating wound to the abdomen is undergoing emergency surgery. What will the nurse expect the patient to need during the perioperative period?

Question

a. An increased dose of the general anesthetic medication
b. Frequent monitoring for bleeding and respiratory complications
c. Interventions to prevent withdrawal symptoms within a few hours
d. Stimulation every hour to prevent prolonged postoperative sedation

Answer 1

ANS: B
Patients who are intoxicated at the time of surgery are at increased risk for problems with bleeding and respiratory complications such as aspiration. In an intoxicated patient, a lower dose of anesthesia is used because of the synergistic effect of the alcohol. Withdrawal is likely to occur later in the postoperative course because the medications used for anesthesia, sedation, and pain will delay withdrawal symptoms. The patient should be monitored frequently for oversedation but does not need to be stimulated.