Clinical Research Directory

Assessment of Valproate on Ethanol Withdrawal

Alcohol use disorder, or heavy drinking, is commonly seen in patients who present to trauma centers. These patients are at risk for Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS), which is collection of symptoms that can range from anxiety and restlessness to seizures, delirium and even death. The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment (CIWA) tool is routinely used to assess alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Benzodiazepines (BZD) are commonly administered to trauma patients who exhibit symptoms of AWS based on the CIWA scoring system. Although these medications have proven efficacy, they can also have negative side effects which may affect recovery. Valprate (VPA) is a medication which may have efficacy in management of AWS symptoms, thus ameliorating or preventing the need for BZD administration. This trial will study the effectiveness of VPA in the prevention of AWS symptoms by comparing the amount of BZD use in trauma patients who receive BZD treatment as indicated by CIWA scores with patients who receive prophylactic VPA therapy in addition to BZD as indicated by CIWA scores.

Effect of Clinical and Biochemical Variables Over Morbidity and Mortality in Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome Patients

The goal of this observational study is to describe the impact measured through the Odds Ratio (OR) of different variables of clinical and biochemical alterations on the duration of the syndrome alcohol withdrawal patients measured in days of symptoms and stay; it could include any patients with a diagnosis of admission of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) who have been treated in the department of Internal Medicine for 5 years. The main question it aims to answer is: What is the relationship between the different clinical, biochemical, and hematic factors on the duration of symptoms, morbidity, and mortality in individuals with alcohol syndrome withdrawal? • If the patient has a greater number of risk factors, such as advanced age, a long and chronic history of alcohol consumption, the type of distillate consumed, as well as the deterioration of liver function and presence of leukocytosis and neutrophilia, then it is postulated that the duration of alcohol withdrawal syndrome will be longer. Clinical records will be used to describe the proportion of complications associated with alcohol withdrawal syndrome including pneumonia bronchial aspiration, seizures, need for mechanical ventilation, digestive tract hemorrhage, toxic-alcoholic hepatitis, and pancreatitis.