Alcohol withdrawal prevention: a randomized evaluation of lorazepam and ethanol--a pilot study.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
BACKGROUND: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome, characterized by confusion, agitation, and hallucinations, decreases the safety of patients with acute myocardial infarction. Unexpected hospitalization and sudden cessation of alcohol consumption may increase in-hospital complications and length of stay and even precipitate death. PURPOSE: To perform a randomized evaluation of lorazepam and ethanol/lorazepam to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these 2 strategies for preventing alcohol withdrawal syndrome in patients with acute coronary syndromes. METHODS: Patients (n = 57) with myocardial infarction were screened for alcohol dependence by using the CAGE questionnaire and randomized to treatment with lorazepam or ethanol with lorazepam. Demographics and complication rates were analyzed by using χ² tests (categorical variables) and t tests (continuous variables). Safety (composite complication rates) of the treatment strategy was evaluated by using the Fisher exact test, and length of stay by using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. RESULTS: Safety-associated complication rates (self-extubation, delirium tremens, reinfarction) did not differ between groups (24% lorazepam vs 18% ethanol; P = .56). Days spent in the cardiac intensive care unit (7% lorazepam vs 2% ethanol; P = .32) and overall hospital stay (6% lorazepam vs 6% ethanol; P = .72) did not differ between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings suggest that a randomized evaluation of treatment strategies to prevent complications associated with alcohol withdrawal in patients with acute myocardial infarction is safe and feasible.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Fullwood, JE; Mostaghimi, Z; Granger, CB; Washam, JB; Bride, W; Zhao, Y; Granger, BB
Published Date
- September 2013
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 22 / 5
Start / End Page
- 398 - 406
PubMed ID
- 23996419
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC4324835
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1937-710X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.4037/ajcc2013283
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States