Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

Have you heard??

There are new changes

to the

Alcohol Withdrawal Protocol!

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Review

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Definition of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome is characterized by central nervous system hyperactivity that occurs when an alcohol dependent individual abruptly stops or significantly reduces alcohol consumption.

Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome encompasses symptoms that can range from mild to life threatening delirium!

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• Today, it is estimated that one in four people are classified as “at-risk” drinkers. These individuals meet the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence.

• Many times, a patient is not even aware themselves that they are considered at risk for alcohol abuse or are indeed alcohol dependent!

• You, as the healthcare provider, may come in contact with patients who are alcohol dependent without being aware of it when you first care for them!

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• About 50% of alcohol - dependent patients develop clinically relevant symptoms of withdrawal!

• If you are not looking for Alcohol withdrawal, the symptoms can easily be overlooked.

• Because deaths have occurred in 10% of untreated alcohol withdrawal delirium and in 25% of those patients with medical or coexistent surgical complications, it is imperative to be on the alert for this life-threatening condition!

• (Stern: Massachusetts General Hospital

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The stigma and ignorance

about alcoholism

unfortunately contribute and affect

two major in–patient problems:

Under recognition

&

Inadequate treatment

American Society of Addiction Medicine Guidelines

for Proper Treatment of Withdrawal

• Provide a safe withdrawal from the drug(s) of dependence and enable the patient to become drug free

• Provide a withdrawal that’s humane and protects the patient’s dignity

• Prepare the patient for ongoing treatment for the dependence

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Its important to remember ………

If interventions don’t get implemented early on – withdrawal symptoms are more likely to become more severe and may progress to:

•Hallucinations•Seizures•Delirium tremens

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Withdrawal symptoms can also progress and include:

• Arrhythmias• Pneumonia• CNS injury • Exacerbation of underlying pancreatitis or

hepatitis

Remember, every patient

will differ as to how much and when they will experience if, any

withdrawal symptoms!

Our goal is to recognize who is at risk

and prevent!

Signs and symptoms team members

need to be alert and watch for include…….

Mild Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawalcan occur within hours;

6-12 hours of stopping or

lowering BAC (blood alcohol concentrations)

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Mild Symptoms

• Anxiety• Insomnia• Vivid dreams• Tremors• Headache• Diaphoresis• Palpitations• Anorexia• Gastrointestinal upset- Nausea and Vomiting• Hypervigilance

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More serious symptoms

may present

anywhere within 12- 96 hours

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Within 12 to 24 hours, the patient may

also experience…

• Visual hallucinations

• Tactile hallucinations

• Auditory hallucinations – although not as likely

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Withdrawal Seizures

may develop between 6 and 48 hours

after the patients last drink of alcohol…

Seizures are the highest safety risk for patients

in alcohol withdrawal because of the:• Risk for aspiration• Oxygen deprivation• Physical injury from thrashing

• Once again, those patients who have experienced repeated episodes of alcohol withdrawal increase their risk for withdrawal seizures.

• It is important to get treatment early to prevent status epilepticus

Within 48 to 96 hours, the patient may experience

Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium

• Delirium• Tachycardia• Hypertension• Low-grade fever – below 100.7F • Agitation• Diaphoresis

• Fever greater than 100.7F is not withdrawal related and must be evaluated for infectious source

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Your patient is at risk for

Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium

if any of these factors are present:

•Severe withdrawal symptoms•History of heavy alcohol use (more than five standard drinks a day for men; more than four standard drinks a day for women)•History of alcohol withdrawal delirium or withdrawal seizures which leads to “Kindling phenomena”•Abnormal liver function•Advanced age

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“Kindling”

occurs when a patient

has experienced

repeated cycles of intoxication

followed by abstinence

The patient’s neurons undergo

long term changes,

causing subsequent episodes

of

withdrawal to worsen!

The chemical imbalances

become more pronounced

and this patient is more likely to rapidly

experience seizures

in the absence of alcohol.

Alcohol Withdrawal Protocol

• All patients are considered eligible for the alcohol withdrawal protocol if a history of alcohol withdrawal delirium tremors or a positive alcohol history or symptoms.

• The CIWA-Ar protocol is used to assess and treat patients who may be in/at risk for alcohol withdrawal.

• Initiation of this protocol is suggested for patients evaluated to be at risk during the hospital stay to avoid the complication of alcohol withdrawal.

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Initiating the Alcohol Withdrawal Protocol

• During the admitting process, each patient will be asked if they have a history of alcohol use and /or a prior history of alcohol withdrawal.

• After discussion with the physician about the history, the physician may order the protocol for alcohol withdrawal order set.

• The nurse will monitor the patient using the Alcohol (CIWA-Ar Flow sheet).

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The CIWA-Ar Scale

• Utilizing a standardized monitoring tool for alcohol withdrawal is key to:

– Preventing excess morbidity and mortality in patients who are at risk for alcohol withdrawal;

– Helping clinical personnel recognize the process of withdrawal before it progresses to more advanced stages;

– Intervening with appropriate medications to alleviate symptoms of withdrawal.

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CIWA - Ar tool

Uses both nursing observation

(tremor-sweats-agitation-orientation)

and

patient’s reports or answers

(to 6 other questions the nurse will ask patient to elicit patient experiences of the symptoms which include: anxiety, headache

fullness in head, nausea and vomiting- tactile disturbances-auditory disturbances-and visual disturbances being evaluated)

• The CIWA-Ar has well-documented reliability, reproducibility and validity, based on comparison to ratings by expert clinicians.

• The CIWA-Ar scale can measure 10 symptoms (maximum possible score 67).

• The assessment requires approx. 5 minutes to perform.

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CIWA-Ar Assessment Parameters

Nausea & Vomiting

• Ask: Do you feel sick to your stomach? Have you vomited?” Score appropriately:

• 0 No nausea and no vomiting• 1 Mild nausea with no vomiting• 2• 3• 4 Intermittent nausea with dry heaves• 5• 6• 7 constant nausea, frequent dry heaves

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Paroxysmal Sweats

• 0 No sweat visible

• 1 Barely perceptible sweating, palms moist• 2• 3• 4 Beads of sweat obvious on forehead• 5• 6• 7 Drenching sweats

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Agitation

• 0 normal activity• 1 somewhat more than normal activity• 2• 3• 4 moderately fidgety and restless• 5• 6• 7 paces back and forth during most of the interview, or

constantly thrashes about

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Headache, fullness in head

Ask “Does your head feel different? Does it feel like there is a band around your head?” Do not rate for

dizziness or lightheadedness.

• 0 not present• 1 very mild• 2 mild• 3 moderate• 4 moderately severe• 5 severe• 6 very severe• 7 extremely severe

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AnxietyAsk “Do you feel nervous?”

• 0 no anxiety, at ease• 1 mildly anxious• 2• 3• 4 moderately anxious, or guarded, so anxiety is

inferred• 5• 6• 7 equivalent to acute panic states as seen in severe

delirium or acute schizophrenic reactions

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TremorArms extended and fingers spread apart.

•0 No tremor•1 Not visible, but can be felt fingertip to fingertip•2•3•4 Moderate, with patient’s arms extended•5•6•7 Severe, even with arms not extended

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Visual Disturbances

Ask “Does the light appear to be too bright? Is its color different? Does it hurt your eyes? Are you

seeing anything that is disturbing to you? Are you seeing things you know are not there?”

• 0 not present• 1 very mild sensitivity• 2 mild sensitivity• 3 moderate sensitivity• 4 moderately severe hallucinations• 5 severe hallucinations• 6 extremely severe hallucinations• 7 continuous hallucinations

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Tactile DisturbancesAsk “Have you any itching, pins and needles

sensations, any burning, any numbness, or do you feel bugs crawling on or under your skin?”

• 0 none• 1 very mild itching, pins and needles, burning

or numbness• 2 mild itching, pins and needles, burning or

numbness• 3 moderate itching, pins and needles, burning

or numbness• 4 moderately severe hallucinations• 5 severe hallucinations • 6 extremely severe hallucinations• 7 continuous hallucinations

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Auditory Disturbances

Ask “Are you more aware of sounds around you? Are they harsh: Do they frighten you? Are you

hearing anything that is disturbing to you? Are you hearing things you know are not there?”

•0 not present•1 very mild harshness or ability to frighten•2 mild harshness or ability to frighten•3 moderate harshness or ability to frighten•4 moderately severe hallucinations•5 severe hallucinations•6 extremely severe hallucinations•7 continuous hallucinations

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Orientation and

clouding of sensorium

Ask “What day is this? Where are you? Who am I?

•0 oriented and can do serial additions

•1 cannot do serial additions or is uncertain about date

•2 disoriented for date by no more than 2 calendar days

•3 disoriented for date by more than 2 calendar days

•4 disoriented for place and/or person

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CIWA-Ar Scoring

1. The total of the number of points accrued from these 10 parameters will give you the CIWA-Ar score of your patient.

2. The nurse will score the patient on the flow sheet each time the assessment is completed.

3. Some of the assessment criteria is objective. Two different nurses may scoring the patients at the same time might have slightly different scores. However should not be large discrepancies between the two score.

4. Follow orders per physician in the CIWA-Ar order set.

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The Alcohol Withdrawal Protocol itself consists of:

Physician orders:

1.Activity level:Up to chair and bathroom privileges as tolerated when awake, responsive and stable.

2.Oxygen per nasal cannula to maintain O2 saturation 93% or greater

Physician's Orders:

LABORATORY:

RUN ALL LABS “STAT”• Magnesium Level (Serum)•Comprehensive Metabolic Panel• Partial thromboplastin time (aPTT ) (blood)•Prothrombin time/international normalized ratio PT/INR) (blood)•CBC •Alcohol (ethanol), quantitative (blood)•Drugs of abuse, qualitative (urine)•Methanol, qualitative, (blood) Ingestion suspected

New Scoring Guidelines!

• Minimal to Mild Withdrawal: Less than 6 or below

• Moderate Withdrawal: 6-15

• Severe Withdrawal: 15 or more (impending delirium tremens).

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Frequency ofVital Signs and CIWA-A assessment:

If CIWA-A is less than 6, then repeat score and vital signs every 4 hours until less than 6 (x 4 scores, then discontinue protocol)

If CIWA-A score is greater than 6 - Nurse is to perform vitals signs and CIWA-A assessment hourly until score is less than 6.

Frequency of

Vital Signs and CIWA-A assessment

continued:

•If CIWA-A score remains greater than 6 x 72 hours - notify the physician!

•If CIWA-A score is greater than or equal to 20, notify physician and obtain order to transfer to ICU if appropriate.

CIWA-Ar AlgorithmCIWA-Ar SCORE and Vital Signs Frequency

Less than 6 6 or Greater Greater than 8Greater than or equal to 20

Repeat CIWA-Ar score and Vital Signs Every 4 Hours until score is less than 6 X

4 scores and then discontinue protocol.

Repeat CIWA- Ar score and Vital Signs Hourly until score is less

than 6.

Greater than 8 x 72 hours, notify physician.

Greater than or equal to 20, notify physician and obtain order to transfer to ICU if

appropriate.

Call physician if patient has CIWA-Ar score greater than 8x72 hours or greater than or equal to 20.

Or if

Vital Signs: HR>110/min., DBP>120 mmHg, or SBP >180 mmHG

Call Physician if patient has:

Heart rate greater than 110

Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP)

greater than 120mm Hg

or

Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP)

greater than 180mm Hg

Medication Change

Depending upon the which criteria

your patient falls under,

the new protocol will use either

Diazepam (Valium)

or

Lorezapam (Ativan)

NONO YESYES

Is there serious liver disease

(PT/INR > 13 sec)?Is there serious

pulmonary disease(FEV1 < 1.5 liters)?

Is the patient elderly?

Diazepam (Valium) 5mg intravenously,

*reassess CIWA-Ar in 1 hour*

Repeat dose every 1 hour if CIWA-Ar score is above 6

Lorazepam (Ativan) 2mg intravenously,

reassess CIWA-Ar in 1 hour,

Repeat dose every 1 hour if CIWA-Ar is above 6.

Medication Changes:

Dosing is still based on the CIWA-A score range.

The medication frequency has changed to every 1 hour for CIWA-A score above 6

and vital signs taken every hour until score is less than 6 .

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Medications (as found on Physician’s orders)

1. Discontinue all previous benzodiazepine orders

BENZODIAEPINES:IF CIWA-Ar score is greater than 6, CHOOSE ONE:

Recommended treatment for withdrawal

for most patients: Diazepam (Valium) 5mg intravenously,

*reassess CIWA-Ar in 1 hour* Repeat dose every 1 hour if CIWA-Ar score is above 6

For patients with advanced cirrhosis,

INR greater than 1.3

or

age greater that 60;

Choose:

Lorazepam (Ativan) 2mg intravenously,

reassess CIWA-Ar in 1 hour,Repeat dose every 1 hour if CIWA-Ar is above 6.

CALL PHYSCIAN IF PATIENT REQUIRES:

More than 6 mg Lorezepam (Ativan)

or Greater than 20 mg Diazepam (Valium)

in three hours

IV Fluids

Sodium Chloride 0.9%

intravenously @ __________ mL/hr.

Nutritional Supplements

• Thiamine 100mg , multivitamin 10mL, folic acid 1mg in Sodium Chloride 0.9% 500 mL intravenously @ _________mL/ daily for 3 days. Continue IV route if patient remains NPO.

• After 3 days, if patient is eating, change vitamins to:– Thiamine 100mg tablet orally daily– Therapeutic multivitamin with minerals tablet orally daily– Folice acid 1mg tablet orally daily

Nursing Responsibilities

First, therapeutic communication is key to taking care of your patient!

Your values and opinions may very well influence how you communicate with your patient and their family.

It is important to convey respect and acceptance

Strive to be non-judgmental and professional at all times

• Remember alcoholism is a disease.

Alcohol is a common problem in many people’s lives. We need to treat it like we would any other disease.

• Educate the patient and the family

** Educate that the absence of alcohol can make them very ill and we want to be able to provide them with the right kind of care that they will need. By knowing how much and how frequently they drink we can prevent severe withdrawal symptoms.

• Make sure every patient and family receives the • Lake Health folder entitled “Alcohol Dependence.”

Nursing Care includes…….

• Providing a quiet and restful environment

• Decrease environmental stimuli.

• Providing comfort through positioning

(remember a somnolent patient is at risk for aspiration)

• Use medications as ordered

• Foods and fluids – offer regularly to maintain hydration and decrease gastric distress.

• Nutrition consult – this patient is a potential risk for malnutrition which will affect healing process and hospitalization stay.

• Avoid Foley catheters!

• Toileting – provide a regular toileting schedule for confused patients. Offer urinal, bedside commode and be ready to assist patient to the bathroom each time because patient may be medicated and unsteady.

• Ambulate frequently to reduce problems with immobility and reduce stress of withdrawal. Some patients may want to pace in a safe area.

• Initiate Fall Risk precautions

SAFETY

Safety is always a primary concern for all team members involved with providing care for this

patient. Guidelines include:

• Be aware and alert for signs of withdrawal

• Provide sitter as necessary

• Don’t wear anything that the patient can grab!

SAFETY

• Reinforce safe practices with staff including how you position yourself with the patient – do not allow a patient to block your exit

• Have another person with you if the patient is agitated when providing care,

• Always be alert for escalation in agitation and aggressiveness.