Journal Information
Vol. 215. Issue 2.
Pages 107-116 (March 2015)
Share
Share
Download PDF
More article options
Visits
154
Vol. 215. Issue 2.
Pages 107-116 (March 2015)
Clinical up-date
Inpatient alcohol withdrawal syndrome
Síndrome de abstinencia alcohólica en pacientes hospitalizados
Visits
154
R. Monte-Secadesa,b,
Corresponding author
rafael.monte.secades@sergas.es

Corresponding author.
, R. Rabuñal-Reya,b, H. Guerrero-Sandea,b
a Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Lucus Augusti, Lugo, Spain
b Grupo de Alcohol y Alcoholismo. SEMI
This item has received
Article information
Abstract
Full Text
Bibliography
Download PDF
Statistics
Tables (3)
Table 1. Diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder. Differences between the DSM-IV and DSM-5.
Table 2. DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Table 3. Treatment recommendations for alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Show moreShow less
Abstract

A 55-year-old man was admitted for a femur fracture; an alcohol fetor was noted on admission. The following day, the patient began to experience tremors and nervousness. Intravenous haloperidol was administered. Shortly afterwards, the patient experienced two generalized seizures and then began to experience delirium and uncontrollable agitation. The patient was diagnosed with alcohol withdrawal syndrome; high doses of intravenous midazolam were prescribed and infused. A few hours later, the patient presented signs of respiratory depression, requiring a transfer to the intensive care unit. After a review of the medical history, it was determined that the patient had been admitted on three previous occasions due to alcohol withdrawal and had progressed to delirium tremens after experiencing seizures.

Can the risk of alcohol withdrawal syndrome and the need for prophylactic treatment be assessed on admission? Were appropriate monitoring and treatment measures employed? Would it have been possible to change his outcome?

Keywords:
Alcohol withdrawal delirium
Alcohol withdrawal
Inpatients
Treatment
Resumen

Un varón de 55 años ingresó por fractura de fémur. A su llegada presentaba fétor enólico. Al día siguiente comenzó con temblor y nerviosismo, por lo que se administró haloperidol por vía intravenosa. Poco después presentó dos crisis comiciales generalizadas y posteriormente desarrolló un delirio con agresividad incontrolable. Se planteó el diagnóstico de síndrome de abstinencia alcohólica y se pautó midazolam por vía intravenosa en perfusión a dosis altas. A las pocas horas evolucionó a depresión respiratoria que obligó a su traslado a la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. Revisados sus antecedentes, el enfermo había ingresado en tres ocasiones previas por síndrome de abstinencia alcohólica, que tras presentar crisis comiciales evolucionó a delirium tremens.

¿Se podía valorar al ingreso el riesgo de desarrollar un síndrome de abstinencia alcohólica y la necesidad de profilaxis farmacológica? ¿Se utilizaron las medidas de control y tratamiento adecuadas? ¿Hubiera sido posible modificar su evolución clínica?

Palabras clave:
Delirio por abstinencia alcohólica
Abstinencia alcohólica
Pacientes hospitalizados
Tratamiento

Article

These are the options to access the full texts of the publication Revista Clínica Española (English Edition)
Member
Si es usted socio de FESEMI siga los siguientes pasos:

Diríjase desde aquí a la web de la >>>FESEMI<<< e inicie sesión mediante el formulario que se encuentra en la barra superior, pulsando sobre el candado.

Una vez autentificado, en la misma web de FESEMI, en el menú superior, elija la opción deseada.

>>>FESEMI<<<

Subscriber
Subscriber

If you already have your login data, please click here .

If you have forgotten your password you can you can recover it by clicking here and selecting the option “I have forgotten my password”
Subscribe
Subscribe to

Revista Clínica Española (English Edition)

Purchase
Purchase article

Purchasing article the PDF version will be downloaded

Price 19.34 €

Purchase now
Contact
Phone for subscriptions and reporting of errors
From Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (GMT + 1) except for the months of July and August which will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Calls from Spain
932 415 960
Calls from outside Spain
+34 932 415 960
Email
Idiomas
Revista Clínica Española (English Edition)
Article options
Tools
es en

¿Es usted profesional sanitario apto para prescribir o dispensar medicamentos?

Are you a health professional able to prescribe or dispense drugs?