Final answer:
In a patient with cirrhosis, the anesthetic drug would be metabolized at a slower rate due to impaired liver function, which reduces the liver's ability to metabolize drugs and may prolong the effects and increase the risk of toxicity.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient is affected by cirrhosis, the anesthetic drug would be metabolized at a slower rate. Cirrhosis is a condition characterized by irreversible scarring of the liver, which impairs the liver's ability to perform its normal functions, including the metabolism of drugs. Anesthetic drugs are metabolized by enzymes in the liver, and in cirrhosis, the capacity to metabolize drugs is diminished due to liver damage. Consequently, anesthetic drugs may remain in the body for longer periods, leading to prolonged effects and an increased risk of toxicity. Additionally, because of portal hypertension and the development of shunts that bypass the liver, some of the anesthetic drugs might evade the first pass of metabolism by the liver, further complicating their pharmacokinetics.