摘要
Severe AWS （alcohol withdrawal syndrome） and AWD （alcohol withdrawal associated delirium） are common indications for intensive care unit admissions. Approximately 25% of patients with severe alcohol withdrawal require prolonged critical care hospital courses, often complicated by respiratory failure, need for mechanical ventilation due to administration of sedative continuous infusions and development of nosocomial infections. Although benzodiazepines are the mainstay of therapy for alcohol withdrawal, some patients exhibit benzodiazepine-refractory alcohol withdrawal. The use of phenobarbital as adjunct to benzodiazepines has been shown in studies to be effective in enhancing therapeutic responsiveness to benzodiazepines and reducing the need for mechanical ventilation. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether severe alcohol withdrawal treatment based on combining symptom-triggered benzodiazepine therapy with adjunctive phenobarbital will result in decreased mechanical ventilation rates, decreased use of continuous sedative infusions, decreased time to withdrawal symptom resolution and decreased length of stay in the intensive care unit. Chart reviews were utilized to determine total amount of benzodiazepine and phenobarbital use, need for mechanical ventilation, requirement of continuous lorazepam, dexmedetomidine or propofol infusions, average intensive care unit length of stay and incidence of adverse effects.
