Injured patients with very high blood alcohol concentrations Journal Article

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Authors: Afshar, M; Netzer, G; Salisbury-Afshar, E; Murthi, S.; Smith, G. S.
Article Title: Injured patients with very high blood alcohol concentrations
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Most data regarding high blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) >/=400mg/dL have been from alcohol poisoning deaths. Few studies have described this group and reported their alcohol consumption patterns or outcomes compared to other trauma patients. We hypothesised trauma patients with very high BACs arrived to the trauma centre with less severe injuries than their sober counterparts. METHOD: Historical cohort of 46,222 patients admitted to a major trauma centre between January 1, 2002 and October 31, 2011. BAC was categorised into ordinal groups by 100mg/dL intervals. Alcohol questionnaire data on frequency and quantity was captured in the BAC >/=400mg/dL group. The primary analysis was for BAC >/=400mg/dL. RESULTS: BAC was recorded in 44,502 (96.3%) patients. Those with a BAC >/=400mg/dL accounted for 1.1% (147) of BAC positive cases. These patients had the lowest proportion of severe trauma and in-hospital death in comparison with the other alcohol groups (p/=400 group encountered more injuries caused by blunt trauma in comparison with the other alcohol groups (p/=400 group. The majority of these patients reported drinking alcohol 4 or more days per week (81, 67.5%) and five or more drinks per day (79, 65.8%), evident of risky alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS: Most traumas admitted with BAC >/=400mg/dL survived and their injuries were less severe than their less intoxicated and sober counterparts. They also had evidence for risky alcohol use and nearly one-quarter returned to the trauma centre with another injury over the study period. Recognition of this highest BAC group presents an opportunity to provide focused care for their risky alcohol use.
Journal Title: Injury
ISSN: 1879-0267; 0020-1383
Publisher: Elsevier Inc  
Date Published: 2015
Language: ENG
DOI/URL:

S0020-1383(15)00680-4
Notes: LR: 20151112; CI: Copyright (c) 2015; JID: 0226040; OTO: NOTNLM; 2015/05/05 [received]; 2015/10/05 [revised]; 2015/10/22 [accepted]; aheadofprint