scholarly journals Predictors of High Resource Consumption in Alcohol Intoxicated Patients in the Emergency Department

Author(s):  
Katharina Rönz ◽  
Trevor Hirschi ◽  
Sebastian Becker ◽  
Gert Krummrey ◽  
Aristomenis K. Exadaktylos ◽  
...  

Background: previous studies have reported that the incidence of alcohol-related visits to emergency departments (ED) has increased, but little is known about how the necessary resources per visit have changed, or about the predictors and reasons for resource consumption. Methods: a retrospective analysis was performed of all consultations with a primary or secondary diagnosis of acute alcohol intoxication admitted to the ED of Bern University Hospital, Switzerland, between 1 June 2012, and 31 May 2017. Clinical characteristics and resource consumption were extracted and analysed over time. Results: in all, 196,045 ED consultations included 2586 acute alcohol intoxications, corresponding to 1.3% of the total. The incidences of acute alcohol intoxications have tended to increase over the last five years, and a growing number of visits have consumed high resources (consultations above the 75th percentile for total resource consumption). High resource consumption was associated with greater age and the male gender (p < 0.001). The main predictors of resource consumption were fractures (Odds ratio (OR): 3.9, 95% CI 2.8–5.3, p < 0.001), dislocations (OR 3.7, 95%: 1.5–9.1, p < 0.001), and traumatic brain injury (3.5, 2.5–5.1, p < 0.001). Consultations consuming high resources mostly required radiology resources (45%); consultations consuming low or normal resources mostly required physicians’ work (45%) or nurses’ work (27%). Conclusions: the number of alcohol intoxications consuming high resources has increased over the last five years. Acute alcohol intoxication associated with trauma is resource intensive, especially with regard to radiology resources. This underlines the need for further efforts to prevent alcohol-related traffic accidents, for examples.

1960 ◽  
Vol XXXV (IV) ◽  
pp. 585-593 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. P. J. Vanha-Perttula

ABSTRACT The effect of ethyl alcohol on the circulating eosinophil cells has been studied in female albino rats. An intoxicating dose of alcohol caused a marked depletion of circulating eosinophils which was most clearly evident four hours after the administration of the alcohol. The initial values were not reached before 24 hours had elapsed. Intraperitoneal injection of vitamin C 12 hours prior to the alcohol administration very effectively prevented this eosinopenic reaction. The mechanism of regulation of the eosinophil cells in the circulation has been discussed in the light of previous results and of those obtained in this study.


2010 ◽  
Vol 149 (3) ◽  
pp. 324-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Y. Bonitenko ◽  
A. N. Grebenyuk ◽  
V. A. Basharin ◽  
M. B. Ivanov ◽  
N. V. Makarova

2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 1839-1846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Chen ◽  
Fei Cai ◽  
Shuang Guo ◽  
Fang Ding ◽  
Yi He ◽  
...  

1991 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 235-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Lheureux ◽  
R. Askenasi

Flumazenil acts as an antidote for pharmacological and toxic effects due to benzodiazepines. Several isolated observations and short uncontrolled series have also suggested a possible effect against the impairement of consciousness induced by pure alcohol intoxication. Patients admitted in the emergency department with coma related to acute alcohol (ALC) or pure benzodiazepine (BZD) intoxication were randomized and treated blindly with either placebo or 1 mg flumazenil. A modified Glasgow score was used to observe the evolution of consciousness. In the 18 ALC patients, 1 mg flumazenil was not more effective than placebo, whereas it appeared to be very active in the BZD group. However, an open administration of higher doses of flumazenil (2-5 mg) in 11 ALC patients, whose condition had not initially improved, was followed by clear improvement of consciousness in five of them. Flumazenil, administered at a dose usually active against BZD sedation, does not improve CNS depression induced by ALC intoxication. Higher doses could be more effective in some patients, but it should also be verified in a placebo-controlled trial.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document