Prospective Observational Study of the Incidence of Alcoholic Withdrawal Syndrome and the Role of Thiamine in Chronic Alcoholics With Burn Injuries

Abstract

BACKGROUND Chronic alcoholics getting admitted with burn injuries is common. Thiamine is administered in them along with antipsychotics when they develop AWS. The objectives of this study were-1. to determine the incidence of "AWS" in chronic alcoholics with burn injuries, and 2. to determine the role of thiamine. MATERIALS & METHODS This observational prospective study was done in 62 chronic alcoholic patients with burn injuries in the Department of Plastic surgery, in Gandhi hospital during January 2015 and December 2016. Sample size was taken for convenience. RESULTS Amongst the admitted patients, 90.32% were male and 9.67% were female. The mean age of the patients was 43.22 years. The SD was 10.74. 50% of them were laborers. 40.32 % developed "AWS". 32.25% of them were in Group I and 48.38% in Group II. GGT, AST, ALT were elevated and AST: ALT ratio was more than 1 in 51.61% of alcoholics. "AWS", lasted 4.2 days in Group I and 7.14 days in Group II patients; the AST: ALT ratio was greater than one in 60 % and GGT was elevated in 56% in those who developed AWS. CONCLUSION AWS was common, the incidence was higher, and recovery was delayed in those who did not receive Thiamine. Though all the liver enzymes were found to be elevated, GGT was elevated the most.