title: Alcohol level at head injury and subsequent psychotropic treatment during trauma critical care.
abstract: Alcohol intoxication at the time of traumatic brain injury (TBI) presents many complications for critical care treatment. This is the first reported data on psychotropic dosages administered to TBI patients in the critical care setting. In this study, the blood alcohol level (BAL)-positive patients (n = 14) tended to be older (P = 0.095), have lower admission Glascow Coma Scores (P = 0.031), and spent more days on respirators (P = 0.125) than the BAL-zero patients (n = 21). The BAL-positive group received more days of narcotics and benzodiazepines with markedly higher average daily doses, not statistically significant. These results are a basis for studying relationships between medication, treatment variables, and outcomes for TBI patients and then developing specific medication guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, PA, USA.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Chatham-Showalter
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Dubov
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wasser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs