Are intravenous fluids indicated for the management of acutely intoxicated children?

Report By: C. Jackson - ST3 EM
Institution: Booth Hall Children's Hospital
Date Submitted: 3rd December 2007
Last Modified: 10th January 2008
Status: Blue (submitted but not checked)

Three Part Question

Do [children with uncomplicated acute alcohol intoxication], have increased ethanol clearance with the administration of [intravenous fluids] compared with [no intervention at all]?

Clinical Scenario

A teenage girl has been at a party with her friends. She had been drinking vodka for the past few hours prior to admission. She is found collapsed on the bathroom floor and is brought to the emergency department by ambulance. On assessment she smells strongly of alcohol but there are no signs of trauma or suspicion of other drug ingestion. Her blood glucose is stable and she is not vomiting but would iv fluid therapy increase ethanol clearance and hasten her discharge?

Search Strategy

Ovid interface search:
Medline 1996-2007
({exp children AND fluid therapy AND ethanol/or alcohol intoxication/or alcohol drinking LIMIT to human and English}0
41 papers were found

Search Outcome

3 relevent papers found for adults but non for the management of children

Clinical Bottom Line

In uncomplicated alcohol intoxication in children there have been no relevent studies to support the use of intravenous fluids to hasten recovery. Intravenous fluids should be used if necessary for resusciation in accordance with APLS protocols.