special subjects
Perioperative Management
Drug dependence
Patients who are dependent on drugs or alcohol may experience withdrawal during the perioperative period. Alcoholics should be given prophylactic benzodiazepines (eg,chlordiazepoxide,diazepam,lorazepam) starting at admission. Opioid addicts may be given opioid analgesics to prevent withdrawal; for pain relief, they may require larger doses than patients who are not addicted. Rarely, opioid addicts requiremethadoneto prevent withdrawal during the perioperative period. 