A surgical operation is a complex of effects on human tissues and organs, carried out by a doctor for the diagnosis, treatment or correction of body functions. Depending on the urgency, they are: emergency (in case of urgent need in the name of saving the patient's life), urgent (requiring intervention within 48 hours), planned. By nature: radical, palliative, symptomatic.
The purpose of surgical intervention of the first two types is the complete or partial elimination of the cause of the pathological process, and the third is to alleviate the patient's condition.
Can I drink alcohol 10 days after the operation? Should I abstain from drinking alcohol before surgery? How does alcohol affect anesthesia? Let's consider in more detail.
The danger of alcohol in the postoperative period
Ethyl alcohol weakens the human immune system, which has a negative impact on the effectiveness of the surgeon's intervention. In addition, most operations, including laparoscopy, are performed under anesthesia, which, in combination with alcoholic beverages, increase the load on the heart and blood vessels, which can lead to death.
Often, to prevent the occurrence of inflammation and infections in tissues injured by a scalpel, patients are prescribed (for prophylactic purposes) antibiotic therapy, which excludes the possibility of drinking alcohol. Beer is also on the list of prohibited drinks, as it causes fermentation, which slows down the healing of wounds and tissues.
After surgical interventions, the immune status decreases, which can provoke an exacerbation of chronic diseases, cause the appearance of hidden pathologies.
Alcohol after surgery disrupts blood clotting, resulting in an increased risk of internal uncontrolled bleeding that is life-threatening for the patient.
Remember, no matter how much alcohol the patient takes after anesthesia, the processes of depression of the central nervous system are always triggered, which can lead to confusion, respiratory failure, and hallucinations.
Alcohol thins the walls of blood vessels, destroys liver cells, irritates the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, overloads the heart.
How much can you drink?
The minimum period limiting the consumption of ethyl drinks is 30 days after surgical treatment.
Abstinence from alcohol before surgery
As in the case after surgical treatment, and before it, alcohol is prohibited. A characteristic feature of the preoperative period is the passage of the necessary laboratory diagnostics, including the study of urine, ECG, and blood of the patient. In the case of drinking ethyl cocktails, the results become unreliable, which distorts the real clinical picture, can lead to fatal errors in the diagnosis and decision of surgical intervention.
In addition, serious severe operations on the myocardium, veins are performed exclusively under anesthesia. If a patient has seriously abused alcohol a few days before the introduction of anesthesia, the effect of the drug may become unpredictable. For example, one standard dose of anesthetic is not enough, as a result, a person can recover before the end of the operation, while others, on the contrary, get too much of it, an overdose occurs, which leads to inhibition of the respiratory or cardiovascular system.
To avoid the development of the above complications, you should refrain from drinking alcohol for at least a week before surgical treatment.
Alcohol and anesthesia
Anesthesia is the loss of tissue sensitivity for a short period of time under the influence of anesthetic agents. Such drugs block the transmission of nerve impulses, due to which the signals do not reach the brain, which means that the body's response to irritation in the form of pain is also absent.
Local anesthesia lasts another 2. 5 hours after the operation. However, when drinking alcohol, the anesthetic effect of the drug disappears instantly, an acute attack of pain develops, which cannot be muffled even with painkillers.
The situation is much more complicated with general anesthesia used for abdominal surgery, when the body needs to be protected from shock and pain.
After recovery from anesthesia, the following complications may occur:
- headaches;
- nausea;
- weakness or tension in the muscles;
- discomfort in the throat;
- clouding in consciousness;
- drop in blood pressure;
- hallucinogenic delusion.
Why can't you drink alcohol after anesthesia?
Such a combination can lead to the occurrence of critical conditions such as anaphylactic shock, nervous disorders. The withdrawal period of anesthetic drugs depends on the type of drug, its dose and the health of the patient. As a rule, the main part leaves the body within a day after the operation, and the residual within 2-3 days.
Rehabilitation after surgical procedures
Any surgical intervention leads to a weakening of the protective functions of the body. The rehabilitation period for people who abuse alcohol in everyday life will be more difficult than for patients who adhere to a healthy lifestyle, since the healing of "alcoholized" tissues takes longer.
Recommendations after surgery:
- After abdominal surgery, you should not eat for the first 2-3 days. You can get up in a day, gradually increasing the load, walking more. This will speed up the return of the body to its usual environment. Alcohol should not be drunk for another month.
- After coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), eliminate bad habits, regularly measure blood pressure, count the pulse, determine the presence of edema, do not create a load on the heart (do not go to the sauna, do not plan long walks, give up intense physical exertion). CABG does not cure people of coronary heart disease, it serves only as a symptomatic therapy. The bypass patient is required to follow a life-long diet that limits the intake of salt, animal fats, alcohol and carbohydrates. At the same time, the emphasis in nutrition is on protein, plant foods.
- After surgery on the shoulder joint, hip joint, involving the complete replacement of diseased cartilage and bones with artificial material, the patient is given intravenous solutions, antibiotics to maintain the water-salt balance, and painkillers. In order to avoid a negative reaction of the body, alcoholic beverages are prohibited. After endoprosthetics, physiotherapy exercises are prescribed, which excludes overload of the operated leg and arm.
- After removal of the gallbladder, alcohol is forbidden to drink for the rest of your life.
- After eye surgery, cataract removal, alcohol should not be drunk for at least 3 months. During the rehabilitation period, patients are prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are incompatible with alcohol.
- After spinal surgery, the patient is prescribed painkillers, NSAIDs, which, when interacting with ethanol, increase the risk of developing gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers. In addition, alcohol reduces the effect of drugs that improve microcirculation, overloads the liver, which leads to disruption of metabolic processes in the body, which is fraught with dystrophic, degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs.
After varicocele surgery, a man should lie down for the first day. On the second day, you can start moving. Walking increases blood flow and prevents constipation. To relieve pain, a cold compress is applied to the sore spot for 15 minutes.
Output
Surgical intervention on any tissues and organs always leads to the appearance of postoperative edema. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited during this period. The fact is that alcohol accelerates blood circulation, which can increase swelling, worsen the condition of fresh stitches. In addition, ethyl alcohol gives a negative reaction with anesthetic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs. As a result, the body may behave in an unusual way.
The period of abstinence from drinking alcohol before surgery is at least 10 days and after - from 1 to 6 months. At the same time, in some cases (when the gallbladder is removed), a lifetime ban is imposed on the intake of strong drinks.