Which vitamin is appropriate for a post-operative patient with alcoholism?

Vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, is particularly important for post-operative patients with a history of alcoholism due to the risk of thiamine deficiency associated with chronic alcohol use. Alcoholism can lead to nutritional deficiencies, including thiamine, because it often results in poor dietary habits and impaired absorption of nutrients.

Thiamine deficiency can lead to serious neurological conditions such as Wernicke's encephalopathy, which is characterized by confusion, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia, and it can also contribute to Korsakoff syndrome. Post-operative patients are already at risk for complications due to the stress of surgery, and ensuring adequate thiamine levels is essential to preventing these severe outcomes.

Providing thiamine supplementation can help prevent these complications and promote recovery after surgery in patients with a history of alcohol use disorder, making it the most appropriate choice for this patient population.