Substance Use, Intoxication, and Withdrawal in the Critical Care Setting

Joseph H Donroe; Jeanette M Tetrault

doi:10.1016/j.ccc.2017.03.003

Substance Use, Intoxication, and Withdrawal in the Critical Care Setting

Crit Care Clin. 2017 Jul;33(3):543-558. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2017.03.003. Epub 2017 Apr 20.

Authors

Joseph H Donroe¹, Jeanette M Tetrault²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, St. Raphael Campus, Office M330, 1450 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. Electronic address: joseph.donroe@yale.edu.
² Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, 367 Cedar Street, Suite 305, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.

PMID: 28601134
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccc.2017.03.003

Abstract

Substance use is common among individuals admitted to the critical care setting and may complicate treatment of underlying disorders. Management issues include the effects of intoxication as well as the risk posed by substance-withdrawal syndromes in patients being treated for critical illness. This article reviews the epidemiology of substance use in this population and the identification and treatment of common intoxication and withdrawal syndromes. The authors stress the importance of long-term planning as part of the overall treatment protocol beyond the acute presentation.

Keywords: Cocaine; Critical care; MDMA; Opioid-related disorders; Stimulant-related disorders; Substance-related disorders; Synthetic cannabinoid; Synthetic cathinone.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Critical Care*
Drug Overdose / etiology
Humans
Illicit Drugs / poisoning
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / etiology
Substance-Related Disorders / complications*

Substances

Illicit Drugs