Acute Alcohol Withdrawal and Delirium Tremens

Acute Alcohol Withdrawal and Delirium Tremens

Acute Alcohol Withdrawal and Delirium Tremens

Repetitive Myocardial Infarctions Secondary to Delirium Tremens

Delirium tremens develops in a minority of patients undergoing acute alcohol withdrawal; however, that minority is vulnerable to significant morbidity and mortality. Historically, benzodiazepines are given intravenously to control withdrawal symptoms, although occasionally a more substantial medication is needed to prevent the devastating effects of delirium tremens, that is, propofol. We repor...

Morphine for Intravenous Patient-Controlled Analgesia May Inhibit Delirium Tremens

Alcoholism is common among trauma patients and often lacks the appropriate monitoring. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), including delirium tremens (DT), can be associated with significant postoperative morbidity and mortality. However, appropriate acute pain management may protect against delirium; the administration of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV - PCA) may not only alleviat...

Use of Phenobarbital in Delirium Tremens

The standard of care for alcohol withdrawal centers on the use of escalating doses of benzodiazepines until clinical improvement is achieved. However, there is no established standard in the care of patients with severe alcohol withdrawal and delirium tremens that is refractory to benzodiazepine therapy. One potential therapy that is gaining traction is the use of phenobarbital, which may be me...