Podcast 581:  Alcohol Complications

Podcast 581: Alcohol Complications

\Contributor: Don Stader, MD

Educational Pearls:

  • Altered mental status/confusion are major symptoms associated with both alcohol use and withdrawal.
  • Wernicke's encephalopathy is a triad of symptoms of confusion, internuclear ophthalmoplegia, and confabulation
  • The treatment for Wernicke's is IV thiamine or vitamin B1
  • Untreated Wernicke's leads to Korsakoff's syndrome where a prolonged thiamine deficiency leads to worsening brain function
  • Subdural hematomas from torn bridging veins are common in alcoholics because of the combination of frequent falls and cerebral atrophy caused by alcohol.
  • Alcohol is a major cause of heart failure and atrial fibrillation; "holiday heart" is a-fib induced by binge drinking where high levels of acetaldehyde from the metabolism of alcohol excite the heart.
  • Frequent alcohol use is linked to esophageal cancer
  • Alcoholic cirrhosis can lead to a multitude of complications including esophageal varices that can rupture often with fatal outcomes
  • Aspiration pneumonia is more common in alcoholics because of a depressed gag reflex and alteration of oral flora

References

Brousse G, Geneste-Saelens J, Cabe J, Cottencin O. Alcool et urgences [Alcohol and emergencies]. Presse Med. 2018;47(7-8 Pt 1):667-676. doi:10.1016/j.lpm.2018.06.001

Chandrakumar A, Bhardwaj A, 't Jong GW. Review of thiamine deficiency disorders: Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff psychosis. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2018;30(2):153-162. Published 2018 Oct 2. doi:10.1515/jbcpp-2018-0075

Simou E, Britton J, Leonardi-Bee J. Alcohol and the risk of pneumonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2018;8(8):e022344. Published 2018 Aug 22. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022344

Summarized by Jackson Roos, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD



Jaksot(1146)

Podcast 550: Good ol' Versed

Podcast 550: Good ol' Versed

Contributor: Sam Killian, MD Educational Pearls: Agitation can be due to a number of causes, but regardless of the cause, sedation often plays a key role in patient and provider safety. But what is t...

17 Maalis 20204min

Podcast 549:  Just Use Epineprhine

Podcast 549: Just Use Epineprhine

Contributor: Sam Killian, MD Educational Pearls: Classic dogma teaching that epinephrine should not be used in the fingers, nose, penis, and toes when performing local anesthesia due to concerns for ...

16 Maalis 20203min

On the Streets #2: Neurological Deficits

On the Streets #2: Neurological Deficits

Part 1 of 2: Dr. Adam Graham dishes out the essentials of identifying concerning neurological deficits on the scene, predicting what they mean and how to best care for patients with neurological defic...

11 Maalis 202020min

Podcast 548:  Adrenal Crisis

Podcast 548: Adrenal Crisis

Contributor: Nick Tsipis, MD Educational Pearls: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of enzyme deficiencies in the adrenals leading to a deficiency of hormones normally synthesized by the...

10 Maalis 20205min

Podcast 547: Capsaicin Cream to the Rescue

Podcast 547: Capsaicin Cream to the Rescue

Author: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: A recent retrospective study looked capsaicin cream in treating cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in regards to length of stay, cost analysis, use of rescu...

9 Maalis 20201min

Podcast 546: Complete Heart Block

Podcast 546: Complete Heart Block

Author: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: Differentiating symptomatic bradycardia from asymptomatic may be essential in determining workup and treatment Airway, breath, circulation always hold true...

3 Maalis 20203min

Podcast 545: So You Quit Smoking… Now What?

Podcast 545: So You Quit Smoking… Now What?

Author: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: New data shows within 5 years of smoking cessation, the risk of cardiovascular disease becomes half of those who continue to smoke After 10-15 years of c...

2 Maalis 20201min

UnfilterED #5: Dr. Lisa Zwerdlinger

UnfilterED #5: Dr. Lisa Zwerdlinger

Recorded remotely in the highest hospital in the world, Nick sits down to talk with Dr. Lisa Zwerdlinger, a small-town physician who's worn many different hats both in the hospital and her community. ...

26 Helmi 202033min

Suosittua kategoriassa Tiede

rss-poliisin-mieli
tiedekulma-podcast
rss-mita-tulisi-tietaa
docemilia
rss-luontopodi-samuel-glassar-tutkii-luonnon-ihmeita
rss-duodecim-lehti
utelias-mieli
radio-antro
rss-astetta-parempi-elama-podcast
rss-lapsuuden-rakentajat-podcast
rss-lihavuudesta-podcast
rss-sosiopodi