Course Summary
Expiration Date: 10/01/2028
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a potentially fatal complication of chronic heavy alcohol use. The AWS definition, epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, initial assessment, clinical presentation, and complications are discussed. An emphasis is raised of various treatment modalities, focusing on supportive care, nutritional support, and pharmacotherapy, including the use of benzodiazepines, barbiturates, alpha-2 adrenergic agonists, beta-blockers, propofol, anticonvulsants, and ketamine. The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment, Revised (CIWA-Ar) protocol is detailed for evaluating AWS severity and guiding symptom-triggered treatment.
Course Format
Homestudy
Course Syllabus
- Introduction
- A Potentially Fatal Complication
- Definitions
- Epidemiology of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
- Pathophysiology
- Diagnosis and Initial Assessment
- Initial AssessmentÂ
- PAWSS
- DSM-5 Criteria for AWS Delirium
- AWS Clinical Presentation
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Delirium Tremens
- Women and AWS
- AWS Complications
- Post-Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
- Treatment: Inpatient Care
- Nutritional Support
- Pharmacotherapy
- Benzodiazepines
- Barbiturates
- α-2 Adrenergic Agonists and Beta-Blockers
- Propofol
- Anticonvulsants
- Ketamine
- CIWA-Ar Protocol
- Nursing Care
- Summary
Author
Dana Bartlett, RN, BSN, MSN, MA, CSPI
Dana Bartlett is a professional nurse and author. His clinical experience includes 16 years of ICU and ER experience and over 27 years as a poison control center information specialist. Dana has published numerous CE and journal articles, written NCLEX material, textbook chapters, and more than 100 online CE articles, and done editing and reviewing for publishers such as Elsevier, Lippincott, and Thieme. He has written widely on the subject of toxicology and was a contributing editor, toxicology section, for Critical Care Nurse journal. He is currently employed at the Connecticut Poison Control Center. He lives in Wappingers Falls, NY.