• B L Erstad, D K Harlander, and J A Daller.
• Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721.
• Ann Pharmacother. 1993 Jul 1; 27 (7-8): 889-91.

ObjectiveTo determine the effects of ethanol (EtOH) ingestion by trauma patients on the hematologic system as evidenced by coagulation abnormalities and transfusion requirements.DesignRetrospective chart review. The injury severity score (ISS) was determined for each patient. Patients were grouped according to presence of EtOH (+EtOH) and absence of EtOH (-EtOH) with further subdivision based on an ISS < or = 8 or > or = 9.SettingUniversity medical center.PatientsAll adult trauma patients admitted during a one-month period.Main Outcome MeasuresThe volume of resuscitation fluids (including blood products) administered, laboratory parameters indicative of bleeding, and length of stay.ResultsOf 104 evaluable patients, 38 had measurable EtOH concentrations, 46 had undetectable EtOH concentrations, and the remaining 20 patients had not been tested. Although isolated, statistically significant differences were found among groups for some of the outcome measures, there were no clinically important differences.ConclusionsEtOH ingestion prior to injury did not appear to cause significant alterations in the hematologic system of trauma patients, but a larger study is needed to confirm these findings.

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