Since 1995 - Non Profit Healthcare Advice

Drug use – cocaine – before surgery

05/05/2006

Question:

I did some cocaine the night of 5/03/06 and I am scheduled for back surgery on 5/05/06 @ 730am. I did a little more than have a gram. I will have lumbar surgery which requires general anesthesia. Is it possible some thing could happen to me. I do not do coc every day nor every week. I just got together with my friends and partied that night.

Answer:

If it’s 48 hrs since your ingestion of cocaine you should have recovered from any acute intoxication effects of the drug. The more recent your use of cocaine, the more likely you are to have problems during a general anesthetic and major surgery. Cocaine does have potential long term effects on your health of course, including the possibility of permanent heart damage, so any health practitioner will advise you to avoid it. You should be as forthright and honest as possible with your anesthesiologist about your recent drug use so that any problems, such as blood pressure changes, or interactions with anesthetic drugs, can be anticipated.

For more information:

Go to the Anesthesia health topic.