title: [The effect of alcohol consumption on the severity of injuries, prognosis and mortality--a review of literature].
abstract: The paper is a review of the most current academic literature published in the English language and addressing the effect of alcohol consumption on the severity of injuries, prognosis and mortality with special emphasis placed on the consultative usefulness of such publications. The report was inspired by repeated questions asked in association with expert opinions on the effects of injuries and addressing a possible effect of alcohol consumption by the victims on the severity of injuries and prognosis. In case of such questions, a valuable supplement to an opinion based on on the expert's professional experience may be found in an analysis of publications focusing on the subject. The present review was based on two databases "Web of science" and "Medline" (2000-2011). Initially, 372 abstracts were taken into account. Subsequently, 42 articles were thoroughly studied. The analyzed material represented both experimental and research approaches to the problem. The experimental approach was based on tests carried out on animals in laboratories, whereas the research approach was based on the observations of patients admitted to hospitals with injuries. The literature overview indicates a neuroprotective feature of alcohol and an improved prognosis in intoxicated people suffering from isolated head injuries, even though the severity of their injuries is much higher than in the cases of sober people. In cases of polytrauma injuries, the influence of alcohol is explicitly negative, but does not increase mortality.
authors: Katedry i Zakładu Medycyny Sadowej, Warszawskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego.
authors: Aleksandra
authors: A
authors: Borowska-Solonynko
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Dabkowska
authors: Zuzanna
authors: Z
authors: Raczkowska
authors: Wojciech
authors: W
authors: Kwietniewski
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000401:mortality*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death; D015897:Comorbidity; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000401:mortality*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality*
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol