Circulatory response of young adult trauma victims with alcohol intoxication

Young adults are a subgroup particularly susceptible to traumatic injury; alcohol intoxication is a major risk factor for trauma in young adults. During the first hours following multiple trauma, however, little is known about the specific effects of alcohol intoxication on the circulatory response of critically injured young adults. The purpose of this prospective study was to compare the circulatory response of 5 severely injured young adults (15-40 years old) with acute alcohol intoxication to the circulatory response of 5 severely injured, nonintoxicated young adults. Data were collected every hour for the first 8 hours after admission to a surgical intensive care unit. Subjects with alcohol intoxication had significantly higher heart rates (t = 2.8176, p < .05) than their nonintoxicated counterparts. Heart rate and blood pressure, however, showed no statistically significant (p < .05) Group x Time interaction between the two groups. Subjects with alcohol intoxication also had injuries that caused more blood loss, more invasive monitoring, more operative procedures, more fluid replacement, and higher oxygen requirements.