Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: Turning minor injuries into a major problem.
BACKGROUND
Abrupt cessation of chronic drinking patterns places hospitalized patients at risk for alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of AWS on length of stay, morbidity, mortality, and cost in low injury acuity trauma patients.


METHODS
A retrospective review of the National Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons database from July 1999 to February 2004 was performed. All patients 15 years or older admitted to our Level I trauma center with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) <16 were included. AWS patients were compared with those without AWS. Demographics, mechanism of injury (MOI), ISS, revised trauma score, Glasgow Coma score, hospital course, morbidity, requirement of additional procedures, mortality, and cost were compared. Analysis was done with chi2 test and Student's t test. A p value of < or =0.05 determined significance.


RESULTS
Of 6,431 patients, 55 (0.9%) developed AWS. AWS patients were likely men (p < 0.001); had a higher ISS (p = 0.001) and lower Glasgow Coma score (p = 0.01); had more ventilator days (p = 0.008), intensive care unit days (p < 0.0001), and hospital days (p < 0.0001); suffered more complications, including respiratory failure (p < 0.0001), pneumonia (p < 0.0001), urinary tract infection (p = 0.0005), sepsis (p < 0.0001), tracheostomy (p < 0.0001), and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (p < 0.0001); and had higher cost (p < 0.0001). Mortality was similar (p = 0.38) among groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Low injury acuity patients with AWS have increased morbidity, leading to increased hospital stay and cost. To allow minor injuries to remain minor problems, the best modality to identify patients at risk and to achieve AWS prophylaxis require further investigation.
Bard
Michael R
MR
Department of Surgery, The Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, The Center of Excellence for Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, University Health Systems of Eastern North Carolina, Greenville, North Carolina 27858-4354, USA. mbard@pcmh.com
Goettler
Claudia E
CE
Toschlog
Eric A
EA
Sagraves
Scott G
SG
Schenarts
Paul J
PJ
Newell
Mark A
MA
Fugate
Mark
M
Rotondo
Michael F
MF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D017722:Hospital Charges; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality
D000431:Ethanol