Podcast #316: Abnormalities in Alcohol Intoxication

Author: Michael Hunt, M.D.

Educational Pearls:

• 1% of patients presenting to ED with alcohol intoxication end up going to the ICU

• Most common critical illnesses were acute hypoxic respiratory failure, sepsis, and intracranial hemorrhage

• Predictive markers: Vital abnormalities (hypoxia, tachycardic, tachypneic, hypothermic, hyperthermia, hypoglycemia) and patients receiving parenteral sedatives had higher incidence of ICU admission

References:

Klein, LR; et al. (2018). Unsuspected Critical Illness Among Emergency Department Patients Presenting for Acute Alcohol Intoxication. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 71(3):279-288