Ethanol toxicity
Revision as of 07:46, 19 February 2012 by Jswartz (talk | contribs) (moved Alcohol (ETOH) Intoxication to Alcohol Intoxication)
Background
- AMS that doesn't improve after few hrs is d/t alternative cause until proven otherwise
- Blood Alcohol Level
- Correlates poorly with degree of intoxication
- Rate of ETOH elimination is 15-30mg/dL/hr (depending on degree of chronic alcoholism)
Clinical Features
- Classic Features
- Slurred speech
- Nystagmus
- Ataxia
- N/V
- Respiratory depression
- Coma
- Other Features (if malnourished)
- Hypoglycemia
- Ketoacidosis
- Lactic acidosis
Diagnosis
- Blood sugar
- BAL
- Appropriate if AMS is due to unknown cause
- Not necessarily required in mild-mod intoxication or if no other abnormality suspected
- Elevated osmolar gap
Treatment
- GI decontamination
- Activated charcoal ineffective (ETOH is too rapidly absorbed)
- Hypoglycemia
- Give glucose immediately (do not have to wait to give thiamine first)
- "Banana Bag"
- IV form is not justified
- Likelihood of vitamin deficiency (except for thiamine) is low
- IVF does not hasten ETOH elimination
Disposition
- Most pts require observation only
See Also
Source
- Tintinalli