Related Experiment Videos
[Late-onset alcohol withdrawal syndrome]
1Unité de Traitement Ambulatoire des Maladies Addictives, Hôpital Beaujon, 100, boulevard Général-Leclerc, 92118 Clichy Cedex. philippe.batel@bjn.ap-hop.paris.fr
Annales De Medecine Interne
|December 6, 2000
Summary
Severe alcoholic withdrawal syndrome (AWS) can manifest unusually late, even days after hospitalization for alcohol-dependent patients. This case highlights delayed AWS onset and delirium tremens in a trauma patient.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Addiction Medicine
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) typically emerges within hours of hospital admission for alcohol-dependent individuals.
- Onset timing is influenced by factors such as serum alcohol concentration and physical dependence severity.
- Delayed AWS presentation is less common but clinically significant.
Observation:
- A 57-year-old patient with alcohol dependence was hospitalized for leg trauma and underwent surgery.
- Despite initial stability, the patient exhibited a very late onset of severe AWS symptoms on the fourth day post-admission.
- The patient rapidly progressed to a state of delirium tremens.
Findings:
- This case presents a rare instance of severe AWS manifesting significantly later than typically observed.
- The delayed onset challenges conventional understanding of AWS timelines in hospitalized patients.
- The patient's progression to delirium tremens underscores the potential severity of late-onset AWS.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider the possibility of delayed AWS, even in patients initially stable after admission.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind late-onset AWS and delirium tremens.
- Recognizing delayed AWS is crucial for timely intervention and improved patient outcomes in alcohol-dependent individuals.