Recent cocaine use and the incidence of hemodynamic events during general anesthesia: A retrospective cohort study

To evaluate the intraoperative hemodynamics and medication requirements of cocaine-positive patients compared to matched cocaine-negative controls. Retrospective cohort study. Public county hospital. 821 patients undergoing general anesthesia. Incidence of hemodynamic events, defined by a mean arterial pressure of 105 mmHg or a heart rate of 100 beats per minute. Cocaine-positive patients did not experience a higher incidence of hemodynamic events when compared with matched cocaine-negative patients. Cocaine-positive patients were not more likely to be administered vasopressors intraoperatively but did receive more anti-hypertensive agents. The minimum alveolar concentration of anesthetics used was similar between the two groups. Anesthesia duration, length of stay, and in-hospital mortality did not significantly differ between the two cohorts. Cocaine-positive patients did not demonstrate more intraoperative hemodynamic events or adverse short-term outcomes as compared to matched cocaine-negative controls. •Cocaine-positive patients did not have more hemodynamic events.•Length of stay and in-hospital mortality did not differ in the two groups.•Cocaine-positive patients did not require more vasopressors intraoperatively.