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Alcohol withdrawal after open aortic surgery
K A Illig1, M Eagleton, D Kaufman
1Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 652, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. karl_illig@urmc.rochester.edu
Annals of Vascular Surgery
|June 21, 2001
Summary
Unexpected alcohol withdrawal-like syndrome (AWLS) is more common after aortic surgery than other procedures. This finding suggests a need for better risk identification and potential prophylaxis to improve patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Surgical outcomes
- Postoperative complications
Background:
- Alcohol withdrawal-like syndrome (AWLS) can occur postoperatively.
- The incidence of AWLS following different surgical procedures is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that AWLS is more common after aortic surgery compared to other vascular and nonvascular procedures.
- To investigate the association between AWLS and patient outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of patients undergoing open aortic surgery, carotid endarterectomy, infrainguinal bypass, and total colectomy in 1997.
- AWLS definition: prolonged confusion/agitation, response to withdrawal treatment, with other causes ruled out or history present.
- Comparison of AWLS incidence across procedure types.
Main Results:
- AWLS was found to be more common after aortic surgery than other vascular and high-stress, nonaortic intraabdominal procedures.
- AWLS occurrence was associated with increased length of hospital stay and morbidity.
- The reasons for this increased incidence after aortic surgery remain unknown.
Conclusions:
- Aortic surgery is associated with a higher incidence of AWLS compared to other surgical procedures.
- AWLS following aortic surgery is linked to worse patient outcomes, including longer hospital stays and increased morbidity.
- Further research is needed to identify at-risk patients and explore prophylactic strategies to mitigate AWLS.