title: Intravenous ethanol for alcohol detoxification in trauma patients.
abstract: Traumatic injury frequently follows alcohol abuse. Between October 1, 1988 and January 31, 1992, 2,219 patients were admitted to the Trauma Service at the University Medical Center of Eastern Carolina-Pitt County. Of the 1,602 who were tested for serum ethanol, 685 (43%) were found to have measurable levels. Thirty-seven patients had alcohol withdrawal and were treated with intravenous ethanol; 34 were male (21 black, 13 white) and 3 female (1 black, 2 white), with an average age of 46 years. Those who had withdrawal had an average serum ethanol level, on presentation, of 239 mg/dL (N = 34). Fourteen patients were involved in motor vehicle crashes, seven were pedestrians struck by cars, and the remaining 16 had various traumatic mechanisms of injury. The most common injuries were long-bone fractures and blunt abdominal trauma. The length of ethanol therapy averaged 4 days. A majority of patients had a favorable response to treatment. Relative contraindications to i.v. ethanol therapy were CNS trauma, liver disease, and pancreatitis. i.v. ethanol is a safe and effective method of alcohol detoxification in the trauma patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville, NC 27858.
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Craft
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Foil
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Patselas
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Long-Snyder
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Collier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D000075202:Contraindications; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol