Elevated osmol gaps in patients with alcoholic ketoacidosis.

INTRODUCTION: The use of the osmol gap as a surrogate marker of toxic alcohol poisoning is common. Unfortunately, many patients with alcoholic ketoacidosis have elevated osmol gaps and are misdiagnosed with toxic alcohol poisoning. We aimed to characterize the range of osmol gaps in patients with alcoholic ketoacidosis. METHODS: This was a retrospective poison center study. Data from 24 years were reviewed using the following case definition of alcoholic ketoacidosis: (1) documented alcohol use disorder; (2) presence of urine or serum ketones or an elevated blood beta-hydroxybutyrate concentration; (3) an anion gap ≥14 mmol/L. Potential cases of alcoholic ketoacidosis that failed to fulfill all three criteria were adjudicated by three toxicologists. Exclusion criteria included (1) detectable toxic alcohol concentration, (2) hemodialysis and/or multiple doses of fomepizole, (3) no osmol gap documented, (4) other diagnoses that lead to a metabolic acidosis. Demographics, pH, anion gap, lactate concentration, and osmol gap were extracted. RESULTS: Of 1,493 patients screened, 55 met criteria for alcoholic ketoacidosis. Sixty-four percent were male, and their median age was 52 years. The median osmol gap was 27 [IQR 18-36]. The largest anion gap was 57 mmol/L, and the lowest pH was 6.8. Forty-five (82%) of the patients with alcoholic ketoacidosis had osmol gaps >10; 38 (69%) had osmol gaps >20; 24 (44%) had osmol gaps >30; 11 (20%) had osmol gaps > 40. DISCUSSION: The large range of osmol gaps in patients with alcoholic ketoacidosis often reaches values associated with toxic alcohol poisoning. The study is limited by the potential for transcribing errors and the inability to identify the cause of the osmol gap. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective study, patients with alcoholic ketoacidosis had a median osmol gap of 27. Given that alcoholic ketoacidosis is easily and inexpensively treated, proper identification may prevent costly and invasive treatment directed at toxic alcohol poisoning.

Screening colonoscopy: The present and the future.

In the United States, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of mortality in men and women. We are now seeing an increasing number of patients with advanced-stage diagnosis and mortality from colorectal cancer before 50 years of age, which requires earlier screening. With the increasing need for CRC screening through colonoscopy, and thus endoscopists, easier and simpler techniques are needed to train proficient endoscopists. The most widely used approach by endoscopists is air insufflation colonoscopy, where air distends the colon to allow visualization of the colonic mucosa. This technique is un-comfortable for patients and requires an anesthetist to administer sedation. In addition, patients commonly complain about discomfort post-op as air escapes into the small bowel and cannot be adequately removed. Current research into the use of water insufflation colonoscopies has proved promising in reducing the need for sedation, decreasing discomfort, and increasing the visibility of the colonic mucosa. Future direction into water insufflation colonoscopies which have shown to be simpler and easier to teach may increase the number of proficient endoscopists in training to serve our aging population.