alcohol

Question 1

what are the safe levels of alcohol consumption?

Answer 1

14 units a week

Question 2

What are the gastrointestinal complications?

Answer 2

1. Liver
   - hepatitis
   - cirrhosis
2. GI
   - pancreatitis
   - oesophageal varices
   - peptic ulcers

Question 3

What are the neurological complications?

Answer 3

1. peripheral neuropathy

2. seizures

Question 4

What are the cardiovascular complication?

Answer 4

1. hypertension

2. cardiomyopathy

Question 5

How is detoxification supported in a patient with alcohol dependance?

Answer 5

1. Detox process
   - benzodiazepine
   - vitamins - thiamine
   treat to avoid wernicke-korsakoff syndrome

Question 6

What is ‘Delirium Tremens’ and how does it present?

Answer 6

1. onset 48 hours after abstinence

2. clinical features - hallucinations, agitation, sweating, tachycardia

Question 7

How is ‘Delirium Tremens’ treated?

Answer 7

1. benzodiazepines

2. parenteral B vitamins (Pabrinex)

Question 8

What is ‘Wernicke’s Encephalopathy’?

Answer 8

1. Acute thiamine B1 deficiency

Question 9

How does ‘Wernicke’s Encephalopathy’ present?

Answer 9

triad of

1. confusion
2. ataxia
3. opthalmoplegia / nastygmus

Question 10

Tx of Wernicke’s Encepthalopathy

Answer 10

urgent replacement of thiamine

Question 11

What is Korsakoff’s syndrome?

Answer 11

IRREVERSIBLE condition

1. anterograde amnesia - inability to form new memories
2. Confabulation - made up stories to fill gaps in memory