Identification and management of acute alcohol intoxication

Acute alcohol intoxication (AAI) is a harmful clinical condition, potentially life-threatening, secondary to the intake of large amounts of alcohol. Clinical manifestations of AAI are characterized by behavioural and neurological symptoms, even if its effects involve several organs and apparatus. Moreover, severe alcohol intoxication can produce a global neurological impairment leading to autonomic dysfunction, respiratory depression, coma and cardiac arrest. The evaluation of blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) is useful to confirm the suspicion of intoxication, both for clinical and legal reasons. Most of patients with AAI are referred to Emergency Departments due to behavioural, social, traumatic or clinical complications. Patient's stabilization is the first step in the management of AAI, in order to support vital functions and to prevent complications. Metadoxine represents a useful drug to increase ethanol metabolism and elimination. Given that AAI could represent a sentinel event of chronic alcohol abuse, patients presenting with acute intoxication should be screened for the presence of an underlying alcohol use disorder and referred to and an alcohol addiction unit to start a multidisciplinary treatment to achieve long term alcohol abstinence. The present review will focus on clinical features, diagnostic criteria and treatment strategies of AAI.

Automated summary

Acute alcohol intoxication (AAI) is a harmful and potentially life-threatening condition caused by the intake of large amounts of alcohol. It mainly manifests as behavioral and neurological symptoms, and can affect multiple organs and systems. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) testing is useful in confirming intoxication. Patient stabilization and vital function support are the first steps in managing AAI, and Metadoxine is a useful drug for enhancing alcohol metabolism and elimination. It is important to screen patients with acute intoxication for underlying alcohol use disorders and refer them for multidisciplinary treatment for long-term abstinence. This review focuses on the clinical features, diagnostic criteria, and treatment strategies of AAI.