Opioid addiction is on a rise globally. The situation is more challenging for anesthesiologist if a patient is an opioid addict. This situation causes not only the increased costs but also several medico-legal and socio-cultural problems. This article covers anesthetic considerations in opioid addicted patients. Challenges When A Patient Is Opioid Addict: Opioid addicts may give the false history or malinger during pre-anesthetic check up.
If posted for elective surgery a proper psychiatric workup should be done. Judicious titration of drugs may be required perioperatively as these groups of patients are nutritionally depleted with hypoproteinemia. Patients may present with Munchausen's syndrome (swallowing air to mimic intestinal obstruction), ensuring precautions to be taken as for full stomach patients. Opioid-dependent patients, particularly substance abusers, may present with organ…
