Citation

Rauscher S, Lomberg L, Schilling T. Notfall Rettungsmed. 2016; 19(1): 28-32.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10049-015-0120-y

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Background. Emergency physicians are often faced with acute or long-term consequences of alcoholic intoxication and harmful use of alcohol. Recognition, differential diagnosis, and initial treatment of alcohol-related disorders are among the core competencies of all emergency physicians. We discuss the emergency aspects of alcohol-related disorders.

METHOD. Research and analysis of current literature.

RESULTS and conclusion. In acute alcohol intoxication, suspected intracranial injury or bleeding must be excluded by performing a CT scan. Hyponatremia and hypoglycemia as alcohol-independent causes for somnolence or unconsciousness should also be excluded. Hypothermia is often a side effect of alcoholic intoxication and should not be missed. In chronic alcohol abuse, there is increased suicidality. Because violence occurs more frequently in intoxicated patients, it is very important that emergency staff is well trained and emergency rooms are structurally equipped to be able to safely treat these complex and potentially aggressive patients. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015.

Language: de

Keywords

human; violence; Suicide; Hypothermia; alcohol; hypothermia; alcoholism; suicidal ideation; emergency care; alcohol intoxication; alcohol abuse; alcohol consumption; differential diagnosis; staff training; Alcoholic intoxication; hypoglycemia; hyponatremia; Article; emergency physician; Hyponatremia; Alcoholic ketoacidosis