>Do you all use IVF in all alcohol intoxicated patients? what IVF? When and
>Why?
>What are the other first line management in these patients? What are your
>worrys most about?
I'd be interested to hear what the "elders and wisers" on the list have to
say on this topic. Apparently, "Intravenous saline has no effect on blood
ethanol clearance." Li J, Mills T, Erato R, J Emerg Med 1999
Jan-Feb;17(1):1-5
I often feel a temptation to give fluids to the *presumed* intoxicated, for
the (very bad) reason that if they perk up on the fluids, I can be reassured
that intoxication alone is the cause of their depressed mental state. But
the risk is that a "trial" of fluids subtly starts to take the place of a
proper assessment, delaying the diagnosis of the head injuries,
hypoglycaemics and hypothermics until "that drunk bloke in 4 still hasn't
woken up despite 2L of Dextrose Saline" ...
So, my questions are, if fluids are potentially dangerous, and don't sober
people up any quicker, why are they so commonly given? Is it just the
anecdotal evidence that "I hooked my drunken flatmate up to an IV when I was
an SHO and he managed to do an appendicectomy 3 hrs later"? Or do we just
care about their hangovers?
Should I stop giving IV fluids? Or should I, too, just resign?
Jon Bury
SHO / Clinical Assistant
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|