Category: Federal Forum Posters
Purpose: Historically benzodiazepines have been used first-line to treat alcohol withdrawal, despite potential adverse effects such as respiratory depression and delirium. Phenobarbital has been studied as an alternative therapy and found to be beneficial in those patients who are refractory to benzodiazepines or those with more severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal at presentation. It has been proposed that phenobarbital can decrease the risk of respiratory depression, agitation, and delirium compared to benzodiazepines. These complications could potentially prolong hospitalizations. The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of phenobarbital protocol for alcohol withdrawal on hospital length of stay.
Methods: This study will be submitted to the institutional review board for approval. Electronic medical record data will be reviewed for those patients who received lorazepam for alcohol withdrawal from October 1, 2017, through September 30, 2018 (one year prior to the implementation of the updated treatment protocol on October 1, 2018). Those patients will be compared to those who receive phenobarbital via the new protocol from October 1, 2018, through March 31, 2018. Patients will be excluded if they are transferring from an outside hospital or admitted to an acute care psychiatric unit. The primary outcome studied will be total length of hospital stay. Secondary outcomes will include intensive care unit length of stay, clinical institute withdrawal assessment for alcohol scores, mortality, and adverse effects such as seizure, need for mechanical ventilation, falls, and delirium.
Results: not applicable
Conclusion: not applicable
Rachel Barr
– PGY1 Pharmacy Resident, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Greenwood, IN161 Views