Alcoholism medical procedure
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Medical Procedures and Considerations in Alcoholism Treatment
Surgical Consequences of Alcoholism
Impact on Surgical Patients
Alcoholism significantly impacts surgical patients, with a notable percentage of hospital admissions involving individuals suffering from alcohol abuse. Studies indicate that between 8% and 17% of patients admitted to general hospitals are alcoholics, many of whom require surgical care due to conditions directly or indirectly related to their alcohol consumption1. Chronic alcohol consumption leads to physiological and morphological changes that affect the efficiency of anesthesia and the surgical process2.
Preoperative Evaluation and Complications
Preoperative evaluation is crucial for chronic alcoholics undergoing surgery, particularly for procedures involving the upper digestive tract. Effective detection methods include multiple preoperative visits, the CAGE questionnaire, and biochemical markers such as carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). These methods significantly increase the detection rates of chronic alcoholics, thereby allowing for better management and reduction of postoperative complications6.
Medical Treatment Approaches
Modern Medical Treatments
The medical treatment of alcoholism has evolved, with newer medications providing better results and fewer side effects compared to older treatments. The goal is to establish a healthy physiological basis for the patient before applying any therapy, making the treatment process less threatening and more acceptable to the patient3. Lifelong abstention is the therapeutic aim, and treatments often include a combination of medical and psychological approaches, such as group therapy and the use of chemical adjuvants like disulfiram and apomorphine4.
Qualified Detoxification Procedures
Qualified detoxification procedures involve diagnosing and treating ethanol intoxication and withdrawal states. Empirical evidence suggests that inpatient treatment periods of three weeks are both efficient and cost-effective. Shorter treatment periods, often enforced by health insurance companies, may lead to rapid relapse and higher overall treatment costs5.
Postoperative and Long-term Management
Postoperative Care and Relapse Prevention
Postoperative care for alcoholics is critical, as they are at high risk for developing major complications. Adequate prophylactic treatment and preoperative abstinence can significantly decrease these risks. Implementing a preoperative identification protocol for patients with alcoholism can help prevent postoperative withdrawal and other complications2.
Challenges in Long-term Treatment
Long-term treatment of alcoholism, especially after procedures like liver transplantation, presents significant challenges. Studies have shown that a substantial percentage of alcoholic patients resume drinking post-transplant. Barriers to effective post-transplant alcoholism treatment include the patient's infirmity, intensive medical management needs, and denial of alcoholism treatment9.
Conclusion
Alcoholism poses significant challenges in both surgical and medical contexts. Effective preoperative evaluation, modern medical treatments, and qualified detoxification procedures are essential for managing alcoholic patients. Long-term management requires a combination of medical and psychological approaches to prevent relapse and ensure sustained recovery.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
SURGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF ALCOHOLISM
Alcoholism has significant impact on surgical patients, with 8-17% of general hospital admissions being alcoholics, and understanding its manifestations and management is crucial for proper surgical practice.
Somatic Complications of Alcoholism in the Surgical Patient
Preoperative identification of alcoholism in surgical patients is crucial to prevent postoperative withdrawal and improve anesthesia efficiency.
Observational StudyMedical treatment of alcoholism.
Medical treatment of alcoholism is becoming more popular due to its acceptance by patients, better results, and fewer side-effects than older medications.
Modern Treatment of Alcoholism
Modern treatment for alcoholism focuses on lifelong abstention, with psychotherapy, group therapy, and chemical adjuvants playing a crucial role in achieving this goal.
[The qualified-detoxification-of-alcoholics procedure--in light of the development of guidelines for the treatment of substance-related disorders].
The qualified-detoxification-of-alcoholics procedure, with 3-week treatment periods, is efficient, cost-effective, and shorter treatment periods may lead to rapid relapse and higher costs.
Preoperative evaluation of chronic alcoholics assessed for surgery of the upper digestive tract.
Using a combination of CAGE, CDT, and GGT before surgery significantly increases the detection of chronic alcoholics at risk for major complications.
Observational StudyAlcoholics: Their Treatment and their Wives
This report is based on a study carried out at the Unit for the Treatment of Alcoholism, Royal Edinburgh Hospital. The unit and its orientation has been described elsewhere (Walton, Ritson and Kennedy, 1966; Ritson and Smith, 1967). It is usual for patients to stay in hospital for six weeks rather than the three to four weeks that was the practice earlier (Walton et al., 1966).
Alcoholism and Anesthesia
Alcoholism is a prevalent disease with significant health complications and economic costs, warranting serious study by all physicians, particularly anesthesiologists, who treat alcoholics in diverse critical care situations.
Alcoholism treatment after liver transplantation: lessons learned from a clinical trial that failed.
Motivational enhancement therapy alone may be effective for treating alcoholism after liver transplantation, as barriers to treatment include infirmity, intensive medical management, and denial.
RCT
Highly Cited