Hemodynamic effects of a single moderate dose of alcohol in elderly subjects.

Stott, David J.; Dutton, M; Murray, Gordon; Williams, B.; McInnes, Gordon T.

doi:10.15288/jsa.1991.52.377

Cited by 8 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 13 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These findings are in contrast with the minimal haemodynamic effects reported after consumption of moderate quantities of alcohol in elderly patients. 1 Lack of alcohol tolerance, due to his usual abstinence, and exposure to high ethanol concentrations are probably responsible for the severe toxicity observed in this patient. An important aspect of this report is that the timing and quantity of alcohol ingested were clearly reported and corroborated, and the patient had not coingested any other drug and he did not regularly consume alcohol.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Severe hypotension and hypothermia caused by acute ethanol toxicity

Wilson

Waring

2007

Emergency Medicine Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article reports the time course and clinical features of acute ethanol poisoning in an elderly man who had previously abstained from alcohol. Several hours after ingestion, severe hypotension and hypothermia developed, and the consciousness level was reduced. Supportive measures were sufficient to allow the patient's blood pressure and temperature to recover by 24 h post ingestion. The clinical manifestations of ethanol toxicity are often confounded by coexistent drug ingestion and variable periods of unconsciousness before arrival at hospital. This case highlights that hypotension and hypothermia may be explained on the basis of severe ethanol poisoning alone, in the absence of any other contributing factors. Clinical features of poisoning may be delayed by several hours and, therefore, patients presenting at the hospital should be considered for observation for at least 4 h after consumption of potentially toxic quantities. More severe toxicity should be anticipated in patients who normally abstain from alcohol.A n 80-year-old man presented at the Emergency Department, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 1 h after acute ingestion of 750 ml vodka (40% alcohol by volume), as corroborated by the patient's wife. He had longstanding depression, and had taken deliberate drug overdoses 15 and 30 years earlier. The patient had abstained from alcohol for many years, and his only regular drug was mirtazepine 30 mg nightly. On initial assessment, the consciousness level was reduced, and he was responsive only to painful stimuli. Respiratory rate was 27/min, pulse 75/min, blood pressure 155/91 mm Hg and temperature 35.5˚C; other detailed physical examinations were normal. Investigations showed venous bicarbonate 19 mmol/l, glucose 6.3 mmol/l and creatinine kinase 133 U/l; electrolytes, liver biochemistry, full blood count and coagulation time were normal. A resting electrocardiogram and chest radiograph were normal, and neither paracetamol nor salicylates were detected in the serum. Urinary toxicology screening was negative, and a passive breath alcohol concentration was 2.16%.Within 30 min of arrival, the patient's consciousness level deteriorated and he became unresponsive. Blood pressure was 102/65 mm Hg, temperature 34.8˚C, cough reflex intact and ventilatory effort satisfactory. Arterial blood analysis showed H + 44 mmol/l, PaCO 2 5

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%