Ethanol toxicity: Difference between revisions

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==Background==
==Background==
*AMS that doesn't improve after few hrs is d/t alternative cause until proven otherwise
*Alcohol (ethanol) is a CNS depressant that can cause respiratory depression, coma, or death when consumed rapidly or in large quantities.
*Blood Alcohol Level
*Rate of ETOH elimination is 15-30mg/dL/hr (depending on degree of chronic alcohol intake)
**Correlates poorly with degree of intoxication
*Ethanol is involved in 30-50% of all traumatic injuries in the US<ref>American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. Statement on insurance, alcohol-related injuries, and trauma centers. Bull Am Coll Surg. 2006;91(9):29-30.</ref>
**Rate of ETOH elimination is 15-30mg/dL/hr (depending on degree of chronic alcoholism)


==Clinical Features==
==Clinical Features==
#Classic Features
[[File:The Alcohol Flushing Response.png|thumb|Alcohol flushing reaction: before (left) and after (right) drinking alcohol.]]
##Slurred speech
===Classic Features===
##Nystagmus
*Diminished fine motor control
##Ataxia
*Impaired judgement and coordination
##N/V
*Slurred speech
##Respiratory depression
*Nystagmus
##Coma
*[[Ataxia]]
#Other Features (if malnourished)
*[[Nausea and vomiting]]
##Hypoglycemia
*Alcohol odor on breath
##Ketoacidosis
*Respiratory depression
##Lactic acidosis
*Lethargy
*[[Coma]]


==Diagnosis==
===Other Features===
#Blood sugar
*[[Hypoglycemia]], particularly in young children due to gluconeogenesis inhibition by ethanol metabolism
#BAL
*[[Alcoholic ketoacidosis|Ketoacidosis]]
##Appropriate if AMS is due to unknown cause
*[[Lactic acidosis]]
##Not necessarily required in mild-mod intoxication or if no other abnormality suspected
*[[Epigastric pain]] ([[pancreatitis]])
#Elevated osmolar gap


==Treatment==
===Mellanby effect===
#GI decontamination
*Impairment is greater at a given blood alcohol concentration when the level is rising than when it is falling. <ref>Wang MQ, Nicholson ME, Mahoney BS, et al. Proprioceptive responses under rising and falling BACs: a test of the Mellanby effect. Percept Mot Skills. 1993 Aug;77(1):83-8.</ref>
##Activated charcoal ineffective (ETOH is too rapidly absorbed)
 
#Hypoglycemia
==Differential Diagnosis==
##Give glucose immediately (do not have to wait to give thiamine first)
{{Ethanol DDX}}
#"Banana Bag"
{{Sedatve/hypnotic toxicity types}}
##IV form is not justified
{{AMS DDX}}
##Likelihood of vitamin deficiency (except for thiamine) is low
 
##IVF does not hasten ETOH elimination
==Evaluation==
''Clinical diagnosis. No specific workup required when there is clear evidence of alcohol intake, but the following may be considered based on clinical picture/gestalt:''
*Fingerstick glucose (recommended as minimum workup in all patients with [[AMS]])
*Consider blood alcohol level (BAL) when a good history cannot be obtained or patient fails to improve as expected
**Correlates poorly with degree of intoxication<ref>Olson KN, Smith SW, Kloss JS, et al. Relationship between blood alcohol concentration and observable symptoms of intoxication in patients presenting to an emergency department. Alcohol Alcohol. 2013 Jul-Aug;48(4):386-9. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agt042.</ref>
*Thiamine deficiency can cause an elevated lactic acid level, and IV thiamine should be administered (in addition to considering other etiologies including toxic alcohol ingestions) <ref> Wardi G, Brice J, Correia M, Liu D, Self M, Tainter C. Demystifying Lactate in the Emergency Department. Ann Emerg Med. 2020 Feb;75(2):287-298. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2019.06.027. Epub 2019 Aug 29. Erratum in: Ann Emerg Med. 2020 Apr;75(4):557. PMID: 31474479. </ref>
*Maintain low threshold for imaging in intoxicated patient with signs of trauma
 
{{Toxic Alcohols Anion/Osmolar Gaps}}
 
==Management==
*Supportive care is mainstay of ED treatment and is based on clinical presentation
**Manage ABCs
**[[Benzodiazepines]] or [[haloperidol]] for agitation
*IV fluids are commonly used but do not hasten ETOH elimination or reduce length of stay<ref>Perez SR, Keijzers G, Steele M. Intravenous 0.9% sodium chloride therapy does not reduce length of stay of alcohol-intoxicated patients in the emergency department: a randomised controlled trial. Emerg Med Australas. 2013 Dec;25(6):527-34. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.12151.</ref><ref>Li J, Mills T, Erato R. Intravenous saline has no effect on blood ethanol clearance. J Emerg Med. 1999 Jan-Feb;17(1):1-5.</ref>
 
{{Vitamin prophylaxis for ETOH}}


==Disposition==
==Disposition==
*Most pts require observation only
*Caution should be taken when BAL is measured on arrival as clinical exam cannot be used alone for discharge
*Can be discharged once patient at baseline mental status, able to tolerate PO and ambulate without assistance


==See Also==
==See Also==
*[[ETOH Withdrawl]]
*[[Toxic alcohols]]
*[[Beer Potomania Syndrome]]
*[[Beer Potomania Syndrome]]
*[[Alcoholic ketoacidosis]]
*[[Ethanol withdrawal]]
*[[Alcohol withdrawal seizures]]
*[[Altered mental status]]
*[[Delerium tremens]]
*[[EBQ:Outpatient use of benzodiazepines for the treatment of acute alcohol withdrawal]]
*[[Sedative/Hypnotic]]


==Source==
==References==
*Tintinalli
<References/>


[[Category:Tox]]
[[Category:Toxicology]]

Latest revision as of 22:09, 30 July 2025

Background

  • Alcohol (ethanol) is a CNS depressant that can cause respiratory depression, coma, or death when consumed rapidly or in large quantities.
  • Rate of ETOH elimination is 15-30mg/dL/hr (depending on degree of chronic alcohol intake)
  • Ethanol is involved in 30-50% of all traumatic injuries in the US[1]

Clinical Features

Alcohol flushing reaction: before (left) and after (right) drinking alcohol.

Classic Features

  • Diminished fine motor control
  • Impaired judgement and coordination
  • Slurred speech
  • Nystagmus
  • Ataxia
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Alcohol odor on breath
  • Respiratory depression
  • Lethargy
  • Coma

Other Features

Mellanby effect

  • Impairment is greater at a given blood alcohol concentration when the level is rising than when it is falling. [2]

Differential Diagnosis

Ethanol related disease processes

Sedative/hypnotic toxicity

Altered mental status

Diffuse brain dysfunction

Primary CNS disease or trauma

Psychiatric

Evaluation

Clinical diagnosis. No specific workup required when there is clear evidence of alcohol intake, but the following may be considered based on clinical picture/gestalt:

  • Fingerstick glucose (recommended as minimum workup in all patients with AMS)
  • Consider blood alcohol level (BAL) when a good history cannot be obtained or patient fails to improve as expected
    • Correlates poorly with degree of intoxication[3]
  • Thiamine deficiency can cause an elevated lactic acid level, and IV thiamine should be administered (in addition to considering other etiologies including toxic alcohol ingestions) [4]
  • Maintain low threshold for imaging in intoxicated patient with signs of trauma

Toxic Alcohols Anion/Osmolar Gaps

Osmolar gap Metabolic acidosis Osmolar gap Anion gap Ketones Ca Oxolate stones Reduced vision Management
Ethanol + + + (if ketoacidosis) + - Mainly supportive
Ethylene glycol + + + - + - Fomepizole, Thiamine, Pyridoxine, +/- Dialysis
Methanol + + (early on, then disappears) + - - + Fomepizole or ethanol, Folinic acid, +/- Dialysis
Isopropyl alcohol - + - + - + Mainly supportive
Propylene gylcol + + (initially) + (converted to lactate) - - -

Management

  • Supportive care is mainstay of ED treatment and is based on clinical presentation
  • IV fluids are commonly used but do not hasten ETOH elimination or reduce length of stay[5][6]

Vitamin Prophylaxis for Chronic alcoholics

  • At risk for thiamine deficiency, but no symptoms: thiamine 100mg PO q day
  • Give multivitamin PO; patient at risk for other vitamin deficiencies

Banana bag

The majority of chronic alcoholics do NOT require a banana bag[7][8]

Disposition

  • Caution should be taken when BAL is measured on arrival as clinical exam cannot be used alone for discharge
  • Can be discharged once patient at baseline mental status, able to tolerate PO and ambulate without assistance

See Also

References

  1. ↑ American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. Statement on insurance, alcohol-related injuries, and trauma centers. Bull Am Coll Surg. 2006;91(9):29-30.
  2. ↑ Wang MQ, Nicholson ME, Mahoney BS, et al. Proprioceptive responses under rising and falling BACs: a test of the Mellanby effect. Percept Mot Skills. 1993 Aug;77(1):83-8.
  3. ↑ Olson KN, Smith SW, Kloss JS, et al. Relationship between blood alcohol concentration and observable symptoms of intoxication in patients presenting to an emergency department. Alcohol Alcohol. 2013 Jul-Aug;48(4):386-9. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agt042.
  4. ↑ Wardi G, Brice J, Correia M, Liu D, Self M, Tainter C. Demystifying Lactate in the Emergency Department. Ann Emerg Med. 2020 Feb;75(2):287-298. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2019.06.027. Epub 2019 Aug 29. Erratum in: Ann Emerg Med. 2020 Apr;75(4):557. PMID: 31474479.
  5. ↑ Perez SR, Keijzers G, Steele M. Intravenous 0.9% sodium chloride therapy does not reduce length of stay of alcohol-intoxicated patients in the emergency department: a randomised controlled trial. Emerg Med Australas. 2013 Dec;25(6):527-34. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.12151.
  6. ↑ Li J, Mills T, Erato R. Intravenous saline has no effect on blood ethanol clearance. J Emerg Med. 1999 Jan-Feb;17(1):1-5.
  7. ↑ Krishel, S, et al. Intravenous Vitamins for Alcoholics in the Emergency Department: A Review. The Journal of Emergency Medicine. 1998; 16(3):419–424.
  8. ↑ Li, SF, et al. Vitamin deficiencies in acutely intoxicated patients in the ED. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2008; 26(7):792–795.
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