title: [The alcoholic patient in the daily routine].
abstract: Chronic alcohol abuse is of significant clinical and economic relevance. A major part of internal medical pathology is associated with chronic alcoholism. 50% of all accidents with subsequent traumatic injuries are related to alcohol intake. Patients who are chronic alcohol abusers have prolonged hospital stays and substantial increases in postoperative morbidity. A sophisticated diagnosis of alcoholism within standard clinical routine is often difficult, and in most cases the treatment of alcohol-related diseases and complications is protracted and requires increased energy expenditure by the treating physicians. In surgical patients, chronic alcohol abuse is associated with a 3- to 4-fold risk of infections, sepsis, cardiac and bleeding complications. Therefore, the patients themselves, along with the general practitioner and an in-hospital interdisciplinary team should cooperate in medical and operative treatment in order to attain better clinical outcome. Each patient history should include a detailed assessment of the quantity of daily alcohol intake. Alcoholic diagnostic regimens including questionnaires (i.e. CAGE, AUDIT) in combination with specific laboratory markers (CDT, GGT, MCV), if implemented, could prove valuable, especially in cases where major surgical procedures are considered. Strict abstinence by alcoholic patients with organ pathology in medical and elective surgical settings as well as the prophylactic treatment of pre-operative alcohol withdrawal appear to be useful strategies to reduce the risk of complications. Short-term interventions are associated with reduced alcohol intake and decreased incidence of re-trauma. Considering the clinical relevance of alcohol abuse, sufficient screening, interventions, and open approaches to address alcohol problems should be important components of the daily clinical routine in outpatient clinics, emergency rooms, in GPs' offices and in general hospitals.
authors: Klinik für Anästhesiologie und operative Intensivmedizin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Gemeinsame Einrichtung von Freier Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors: Jan-Philipp
authors: JP
authors: Breuer
authors: Tim
authors: T
authors: Neumann
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Heinz
authors: Wolfgang J
authors: WJ
authors: Kox
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Spies
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D000465:Algorithms; D002310:Cardiomyopathy, Alcoholic / Q000175:diagnosis; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006519:Hepatitis, Alcoholic / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019512:Pancreatitis, Alcoholic / Q000175:diagnosis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014944:World Health Organization