Critical Illness Among Ethanol-Intoxicated ED Patients

Nothing but observation is indicated among patients with isolated ethanol intoxication, but what proportion of patients does this represent? Investigators performed a chart review to determine the proportion of patients admitted to the intoxication unit of one emergency department (ED) who ultimately required critical care resources.

Only 1% of the 31,364 patients studied required critical care (including admission to the intensive care unit). Factors associated with developing critical illness were hypoglycemia (adjusted odds ratio, 9.2), fever (7.6), hypothermia (4.2), hypotension (3.8), hypoxia (3.8), parenteral sedation (2.4), and tachycardia (1.8). Twenty-seven percent of the patients receiving critical care resources had withdrawal or …