Alcohol withdrawal syndrome AWS (Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome), is defined as the appearance of two or more data of autonomic hyperactivity, nausea, hallucinations and seizures associated with cessation of alcohol consumption. For its evaluation, the CIWA-Ar (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol) scale is used, which guides the treatment based on benzodiazepines but a disadvantage is the related adverse effects, for which other pharmacological strategies of sedation have been tried, among them Dexmedetomidine (DEX).
OBJECTIVES:
The investigators aimed to compare the DEX vs. Diazepam, for moderate disease, applying the CIWA-Ar scale, in participants with severe to moderate AWS (Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome).
MATERIALS:
Prior authorization from the ethics committee of O'Horán Hospital, Yucatán, Mexico. No. Registration CEI-011-1-17, and signature of informed consent. A randomized clinical trial was carried out in the Adult Emergencies service during the period July 2017-July 2018. Forty participants with CIWA-Ar greater than 10 points participated. The administration of:
A) Diazepam 5-20 mg IV. B) DEX 0.2-0.7 mcg / Kg / min., until the CIWA-Ar scale decreases to \<10.
The investigators are excluded minor patients, mild CIWA-Ar category, previous medication, participants with severe cranial encephalic trauma (TBI) or mechanical ventilation requirement, with chronic liver failure category C in the Child-Turcotte-Pugh classification.
RESULTS
The CIWA Ar scale average for admission was 23 points, the lowest of 10 points and the highest of 38 points. The average number of days consuming alcohol prior to hospital admission was 131.9, with the highest average in the group that used dexmedetomidine; the average number of days after having suspended the intake until hospital admission was 1.7 days, being slightly higher in the group that used diazepam; the shortest time was 6 hours and the longest of a week without being related to the CIWA Ar score.
The average duration of treatment with diazepam was 5.5 days (IC 95 = 6.6-3.8), The average duration of treatment with dexmedetomidine was 3.1 days (95% CI = 4.5-1.7) After applying t student a significant difference was found in the number of days in favor of dexmedetomidine (p = 0.0016)
CONCLUSIONS
The investigators found that DEX at conventional doses, for the treatment of moderate-severe alcohol withdrawal in terms of reducing the CIWA-Ar scale, in fewer days and with fewer adverse effects and complications.
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