Implementation of a Protocol Using the 5-Item Brief Alcohol Withdrawal Scale for Treatment of Severe Alcohol Withdrawal in Intensive Care Units.
J Intensive Care Med
; 36(11): 1361-1365, 2021 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32851920
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
There is variation in the treatment of patients with severe alcohol withdrawal and a need for effective protocols. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of a symptom-triggered benzodiazepine protocol using the 5-item Brief Alcohol Withdrawal Scale (BAWS) for treatment of alcohol withdrawal in intensive care units (ICUs).METHODS:
This retrospective study included admissions to ICUs of 2 hospitals over 6 months who had an alcohol withdrawal protocol ordered and experienced severe withdrawal. Records were reviewed to collect demographic data, benzodiazepine exposure, duration of treatment, and withdrawal severity.RESULTS:
The protocol was ordered and implemented in 279 admissions; 48 (17.9%) had severe withdrawal defined as a BAWS of 6 or more. The majority of the 48 patients were from the emergency department (79.2%); mean hospital length of stay was 11.2 days and mean ICU stay 6.6 days; 31.3% required mechanical ventilation. A little more than half were treated only with the protocol (53.2%); 25.0% received additional benzodiazepines, 20.8% dexmedetomidine, 10.4% propofol, 25.0% antipsychotics and 2.0% phenobarbital.CONCLUSION:
Among ICU patients treated for alcohol withdrawal with a symptom-triggered benzodiazepine protocol using a novel 5-item scale, most did not develop severe withdrawal, and of those who did, approximately half were treated with the protocol alone.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Síndrome de Abstinência a Substâncias
/
Alcoolismo
Tipo de estudo:
Guideline
/
Observational_studies
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article