Trends in the management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome

James P. Newman, David J. Terris, Michelle Moore

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Alcohol use among head and neck cancer patients is common. Alcohol withdrawal (especially delirium tremens) poses significant potential morbidity to postsurgical patients. Treatment with newer benzodiazepines (BZDs) such as lorazepam and midazolam has become more widespread, and mortality rates from severe alcohol withdrawal have decreased in recent years. The authors retrospectively studied 102 patients with a diagnosis of alcohol withdrawal, including 20 patients undergoing surgery for cancer of the head and neck. There were 81 men and 21 women, with a mean (± standard deviation [SD]) age of 52.3 (± 16.1) years. Many of these patients (46%) were treated with more than one BZD or other neuroleptic, while 49% received single agent therapy of either chlordiazepoxide (26%) or lorazepam (23%). Delirium tremens occurred in 12% of all patients undergoing withdrawal and in 10% of head and neck cancer patients, with a mortality rate of 9% and 0%, respectively. Single agent use was successful in greater than 95% when either lorazepam or chlordiazepoxide was used. Instances of combination treatment where older BZDs were used yielded a 69% success rate. The higher complication rate and lower treatment success with combination treatment was multifactorial. Optimal management of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome requires an understanding of its patho-physiology and the principles of its prevention along with a familiarity of BZD pharmacokinetic drug profiles. The authors present a treatment plan which is cost-effective, keeps morbidity low, and should allow a continued decreasing trend in mortality rates from delirium tremens.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-7
Number of pages7
JournalLaryngoscope
Volume105
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1995
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Otorhinolaryngology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Trends in the management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this