The Patient Has an Extensive History of Alcoholism

The patient has an extensive history of alcoholism. He is having coronary bypass surgery. While administering anesthesia, the certified nurse anesthetist notes that the patient requires higher-than-usual amounts of the drug. The nurse correctly evaluates this response as what phenomenon?

A) The nurse anesthetist most likely did not calculate the correct amount of anesthesia for this patient.
B) The patient has developed a paradoxical reaction to the anesthesia and will require a different drug.
C) The patient has developed a resistance to the anesthesia, so it will not work very well.
D) The patient has developed cross-tolerance to the anesthesia and will require higher amounts.