[Anesthesiologic aspects of chronic alcohol abuse]

The prevalence of alcoholism exceeds 20% in surgical disciplines. Chronic alcoholics are endangered by an increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. Due to an elaborated preoperative alcoholism-related diagnostic evaluation (alcoholism-related questionnaire and laboratory markers) and an adequate perioperative management (prophylactic treatment of alcohol withdrawal symptoms and symptom-orientated therapy of infections, cardiac complications and bleeding disorders), intercurrent complications may be reduced and postoperative outcome improved.