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Alcohol and surgery: A dangerous combination

Mar 1, 2022 - McMaster University - 17 minutes

People who drink alcoholic beverages are at higher risk of complications during and after surgery. Alcohol consumption can reduce heart and immune system function, prolong bleeding time, and increase the body’s stress response. The less alcohol you drink before surgery, the better. In this video, Dr. Leslie Martin discusses the potential surgical and post-operative risks for people who consume alcohol in the days or weeks leading up to surgery.

Note, this video was recorded prior to January 2023 Canadian guideline update. The report titled Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health reflects the most recent data and methods that have evolved since the guidelines were released in 2011.

Learn the answers to the following questions:

2:14 - What is low-risk drinking?

6:01 - What are some of the potential surgical complications?

9:29 - What are some of the potential post-operative risks?

12:44 - How can you safely reduce alcohol consumption before surgery?

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Featured Resources

Video Post: Low-risk drinking: How much is too much?
Blog Post: Scheduled for surgery? Say no to alcohol

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Author Details

Anthony Levinson

Dr. Anthony J. Levinson is a Professor at McMaster University and holds the John R. Evans Chair in Health Sciences Educational Research and Instructional Development. One of the co-leaders of the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal, Dr. Levinson is also a psychiatrist with a special interest in medical psychiatry and neuropsychiatry. His area of research interest includes online learning to improve healthcare provider and patient education.

Author Details

Leslie Martin

Dr. Leslie Martin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University, and the Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program. She has a Masters in Health Professions Education, with a clinical and research interest in addictions medicine, and is co-chair of the inpatient Addictions Medicine Service at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and Hamilton Health Sciences.

References

McMaster Optimal Aging Portal. Scheduled for surgery? Say no to alcohol. (2019 Jun 27). Accessed September 10, 2021. Available from: https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/blog/detail/blog/2019/06/27/scheduled-for-surgery-say-no-to-alcohol
Egholm JWM, Pedersen B, Møller AM, Adami J, Juhl CB, Tønnesen H. Perioperative alcohol cessation intervention for postoperative complications. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;(11).
Tønnesen H. Alcohol abuse and postoperative morbidity. Dan Med Bull. 2003; 50(2):139–160.
Butt P, Beirness D, Gliksman L, Paradis C, Stockwell T. (2011). Alcohol and health in Canada: A summary of evidence and guidelines for low-risk drinking. Ottawa. Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.
Tønnesen H, Kehlet H. Preoperative alcoholism and postoperative morbidity. Br J Surg. 1999; 86(7):869–874.
Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health. (2019). Canadian Guidelines on Alcohol Use Disorder Among Older Adults. Toronto.
Azam H, Shahrestani S, Phan K. Alcohol use disorders before and after bariatric surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Transl Med. 2018;6(8):148.
Borges J, Moreira J, Pereira L, Santos A, Abelha F. Effects of alcohol consumption in quality of life after surgery and anaesthesia. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2014; 31.
Chapman R, Plaat F. Alcohol and anaesthesia. Contin Educ Anaesth Crit Care Pain. 2009;9(1):10-13.
Elliott DY. Caring for hospitalized patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Nursing2020 Crit Care. 2019;14(5).
Government of Canada. Low-risk alcohol drinking guidelines. (2021 Jul 5). Accessed November 1, 2021. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-use/alcohol/low-risk-alcohol-drinking-guidelines.html

Acknowledgements

This work is supported through the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging and funds provided by the Dean and Vice-President, Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University.

DISCLAIMER: These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).

Many of our Blog Posts were written before the COVID-19 pandemic and thus do not necessarily reflect the latest public health recommendations. While the content of new and old blogs identify activities that support optimal aging, it is important to defer to the most current public health recommendations. Some of the activities suggested within these blogs may need to be modified or avoided altogether to comply with changing public health recommendations. To view the latest updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada, please visit their website.

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