Prävalenz und Schweregrad von Begleitverletzungen alkoholintoxikierter Patienten in der Notaufnahme

The recognition of accompanying injuries in alcohol intoxicated patients is of special importance for risk estimation. In this study the clinical files of patients with a primary diagnosis of alcohol intoxication in the time period from January 2003 to December 2006 were retrospectively and systematically examined with respect to secondarily diagnosed accompanying trauma. Out of a total of 776 patients, secondary injuries were diagnosed in 80 (10%). In this group the factors patient age and blood alcohol concentration showed significantly high values. Most of the patients in the trauma group (80%) showed a low severity score according to the“Abbreviated Injury Scale” (AIS grade 1) and only 4 patients showed moderately severe injuries (AIS grade 2). Severe trauma was only recorded for 2 patients (AIS grades 3 and 4) but both were diagnosed within the framework of the standardized treatment procedure. Extremely severe injuries (AIS grades 5 and 6) were not found and none of the patients died during the emergency admission procedure. The results of this study indicate that the risk for alcohol intoxicated patients with respect to accompanying injuries is low.