title: [The management of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome in the intensive care unit].
abstract: The management of the alcoholic withdrawal syndrome in the intensive care unit is difficult. Clearly, the patient must be sedated, in order to avoid the side-effects of agitation, like trauma. However, a too much enthusiastic sedation has to be avoided, first because it may unmask neurologic important information, and, second, because it can prolong or complicate the ICU stay. In this review, we discuss the actual management of the alcoholic withdrawal syndrome in the ICU.
authors.affiliation: Services des soins intensifs de médecine et de médecine interne générale, HUG, 1211 Genève 14. Pierre-Auguste.Petignat@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Petignat
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003422:Critical Care; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol