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[The alcoholic patient in the daily routine]
Jan-Philipp Breuer1, Tim Neumann, Andreas Heinz
1Klinik für Anästhesiologie und operative Intensivmedizin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Gemeinsame Einrichtung von Freier Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland.
Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift
|November 8, 2003
Summary
Chronic alcohol abuse significantly impacts health and healthcare costs, increasing risks for surgery patients. Early screening and intervention are crucial for better outcomes and reduced complications.
Area of Science:
- Internal Medicine
- Surgery
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Chronic alcohol abuse presents significant clinical and economic challenges.
- Alcoholism is linked to a large proportion of internal medical pathologies and traumatic injuries.
- Alcohol abuse increases hospital stays and postoperative morbidity, particularly in surgical patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the clinical relevance of chronic alcohol abuse.
- To emphasize the difficulties in diagnosing alcoholism in routine clinical practice.
- To advocate for improved screening, intervention, and treatment strategies for alcohol abuse.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical relevance and impact of chronic alcohol abuse.
- Discussion of diagnostic challenges and potential tools (questionnaires like CAGE, AUDIT; lab markers like CDT, GGT, MCV).
- Exploration of management strategies including abstinence and pre-operative withdrawal treatment.
Main Results:
- Chronic alcohol abuse elevates the risk of infections, sepsis, cardiac, and bleeding complications by 3-4 fold in surgical patients.
- Diagnosis of alcoholism can be challenging in standard clinical settings.
- Cooperation between patients, GPs, and interdisciplinary teams is vital for better outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Integrating alcohol abuse screening and intervention into daily clinical routines is essential.
- Abstinence and pre-operative management of withdrawal symptoms can reduce surgical complications.
- A comprehensive approach involving screening, intervention, and open communication is necessary to address alcohol-related health issues.