Ethanol toxicity: Difference between revisions

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==See Also==
==See Also==
*[[Toxicology (Main)]]
*[[Sedative/Hypnotic]]
*[[Alcohol Withdrawal]]
*[[Alcohol Withdrawal]]
*[[Beer Potomania Syndrome]]
*[[Beer Potomania Syndrome]]

Revision as of 07:59, 7 February 2014

Background

  • AMS that doesn't improve after few hrs is due to alternative cause until proven otherwise
  • Blood Alcohol Level
    • Correlates poorly with degree of intoxication
    • Rate of ETOH elimination is 15-30mg/dL/hr (depending on degree of chronic alcoholism)

Clinical Features

  1. Classic Features
    1. Slurred speech
    2. Nystagmus
    3. Ataxia
    4. N/V
    5. Respiratory depression
    6. Coma
  2. Other Features (if malnourished)
    1. Hypoglycemia
    2. Ketoacidosis
    3. Lactic acidosis
    4. Epigastric pain (pancreatitis)

Diagnosis

  1. Blood sugar
  2. BAL
    1. Appropriate if AMS is due to unknown cause
    2. Not necessarily required in mild-mod intoxication or if no other abnormality suspected
  3. Elevated osmolar gap

Treatment

  1. GI decontamination
    1. Activated charcoal ineffective (ETOH is too rapidly absorbed)
  2. Hypoglycemia
    1. Give glucose immediately (do not have to wait to give thiamine first)
  3. "Banana Bag"
    1. IV form is not justified
    2. Likelihood of vitamin deficiency (except for thiamine) is low
    3. IVF does not hasten ETOH elimination

Disposition

  • Most pts require observation only
  • Can be discharged once patient at baseline mental status, able to tolerate PO, and road test successful

See Also

Source

  • Tintinalli