Alcohol Withdrawal in the Setting of Elevated Blood Alcohol Levels

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Alcohol Withdrawal in the Setting of Elevated Blood Alcohol Levels

Have you ever wondered who was at risk for alcohol withdrawal or its most serious manifestation, the delirium tremens (DTs)? Have you failed to consider that alcohol withdrawal may still occur in the presence of an elevated blood alcohol level (BAL)? If you have, then the following case vignette (of a man with alcohol withdrawal that arose precipitously in the emergency department) should serve to provide the forum for answers to these and other questions related to alcohol use, abuse, and abstinence.

Case Presentation

Mr. A, a 46-year-old man with a history of depression, alcohol abuse, and hypertension, presented to the emergency department with a complaint of suicidal ideation. At the triage desk, he acknowledged that he typically consumed approximately 12 beers every…

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