title: Acute alcohol toxicity and withdrawal in the emergency room and medical admissions unit.
abstract: Alcohol-related hospital attendances and admissions continue to escalate despite a fall in alcohol consumption levels in the UK population overall. People with alcohol-related problems pose a significant and often disproportionate burden on acute medical services as their management is often complex and challenging. This article focuses on the management of alcohol intoxication, with particular emphasis on aggressive and possibly violent behaviour; alcohol withdrawal; fitting; and the prevention and treatment of Wernicke's encephalopathy.
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Division of Medicine, Royal Free Campus, London, UK.
authors.forename: Marsha Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000289:Admitting Department, Hospital; D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000628:therapy*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D014899:Wernicke Encephalopathy / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Alcohol intoxication; Wernicke's encephalopathy; aggression; alcohol withdrawal; benzodiazepines; fitting; thiamine