[Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: clinical and analytical manifestations and treatment].

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to analyze clinical manifestations and treatment aspects of alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective study of 212 clinical records.

RESULTS

The commonest withdrawal effects were tremulousness (68.7%) 7 agitation (67.3%) and hallucinations (46%). Most patients were male. The 64% recognize a period of relative or absolute abstinence less than two days, and a 67.8% have been previous incident of withdrawal syndrome. The commonest complications during hospital stay were rhabdomyolysis (26%). Time of symptoms were three days and mean of hospitalization were 14 days. The treatment used was the correction of fluid and electrolyte imbalance (93%) and B vitamins (98%). In relation to the use of drugs, in 84% of our patients we used benzodiazepines with longer-acting, and clomethiazole in 50% of cases. Mortality were 0.9%.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient with alcohol withdrawal syndrome was a male, previously drinker, with a period of abstinence less than two days. In addition to tremulousness and agitation, in our series, we wish to emphasize higher frequency of hallucinations, and the incidence of complications as rhabdomyolysis, despite of such response of treatment is good and mortality is low.