Manage Alcohol Intoxication
There is no evidence that intravenous fluids will expedite sobriety in patients with acute alcohol intoxication - Salim Rezaie
.jpg)
image by: REBEL EM
HWN Recommends
Approach To The Drunk Patient
I wonder if there is an Emergency Department out there that has never dealt with an intoxicated patient. My guess is no. When a patient smells like booze and is acting a fool it is easy to put them in a box and early anchor on alcohol intoxication as the diagnosis. These patients can be challenging. They can be aggressive towards you and your staff. Your staff may not care for these patients like other patients because maybe the patient is rude, disheveled or smells bad. Chronic alcoholics who repeatedly visit the ED can be viewed by staff as abusing the system. No matter how hard the situation gets it is your job to be an advocate for the patient.
Approaching an intoxicated patient…
Resources
Alcohol Intoxication Mimics: ED DDx + Approach to Management
Presentations can vary dramatically and the differential diagnosis of apparent intoxication is broad, including almost any condition which can cause impaired cognition or altered mental status. Patients may present with simple slurring of words, aggressive or bizarre behavior, or be brought to the ED in an unresponsive state. History is often limited, co-ingestions are common, and the differential diagnosis includes some can’t-miss pathologies.
Alcohol Poisoning
Alcohol (ethyl alcohol), also known as ethanol, is one of the most abused substances worldwide, and alcohol poisoning is one of its varying manifestations. Furthermore, alcohol is psychoactive and is known for its ability to induce dependence.
Ethanol Intoxication, Abuse and Dependence
Ethanol is the most frequently consumed recreational drug in the world.
Intravenous Fluids and Alcohol Intoxication
There is no evidence that intravenous fluids will expedite sobriety in patients with acute alcohol intoxication.
Management of the Intoxicated Patient in the Emergency Department
This is a high-risk presentation, and the EP must be extremely diligent in order to provide the highest quality of patient care, diagnose co-existing, lifethreatening disorders, and protect the patient’s constitutional rights.
Approach To The Drunk Patient
I wonder if there is an Emergency Department out there that has never dealt with an intoxicated patient. My guess is no. When a patient smells like booze and is acting a fool it is easy to put them in a box and early anchor on alcohol intoxication as the diagnosis. These patients can be challenging. They can be aggressive towards you and your staff. Your staff may not care for these patients like other patients because maybe the patient is rude, disheveled or smells bad. Chronic alcoholics who repeatedly visit the ED can be viewed by staff as abusing the system. No matter how hard the situation gets it is your job to be an advocate for the patient. Approaching an intoxicated patient should be no different than approaching any other patient. Start with a critical differential diagnosis
Introducing Stitches!
Your Path to Meaningful Connections in the World of Health and Medicine
Connect, Collaborate, and Engage!
Coming Soon - Stitches, the innovative chat app from the creators of HWN. Join meaningful conversations on health and medical topics. Share text, images, and videos seamlessly. Connect directly within HWN's topic pages and articles.
