Title

Injured patients with very high blood alcohol concentrations

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2016

Abstract

Objective—Most data regarding high blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) ≥400 mg/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 hypothesized trauma patients with very high BACs arrived to the trauma center with less severe injuries than their sober counterparts. Method—Historical cohort of 46,222 patients admitted to a major trauma center between January 1, 2002 and October 31, 2011. BAC was categorized into ordinal groups by 100 mg/dL intervals. Alcohol questionnaire data on frequency and quantity was captured in the BAC ≥400 mg/dL group. The primary analysis was for BAC ≥400 mg/dL. Results—BAC was recorded in 44,502 (96.3%) patients. Those with a BAC ≥400 mg/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<0.001), and the group comprised mainly of falls. Admission Glasgow Coma Scale was a poor predictor for traumatic brain injury in the high BAC group. Readmission occurred in 22.4% (33) of patients the BAC ≥400 group. The majority of these patients reported drinking alcohol four 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 ≥400 mg/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 center with another injury over the study period. Recognition of th

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