Safety and Efficacy of Flumazenil for Reversal of Iatrogenic Benzodiazepine-Associated Delirium Toxicity During Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal, a Retrospective Review at One Center

Abstract

Both alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) and benzodiazepines can cause delirium. Benzodiazepineassociated delirium can complicate AWS and prolong hospitalization.

Ethanol Toxicity During Brain Development: Alterations of Excitatory Synaptic Transmission in Immature Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Cultures

“…The concentrations of EtOH in our culture media ranged daily between 150 mM (6.9 g/l) and 32 mM (1.5 g/l), which is similar to the blood alcohol concentration oscillations typical of a frequent drinker and is compatible with the high EtOH concentrations (between 3 and 4 g/l) detected in the blood of alcoholics in the emergency room. A number of studies report the concentrations of biomarkers of EtOH but not of EtOH itself in human and rodent placental and fetal tissue (Moore et al., ; Morini et al., ); nonetheless, the low concentrations of EtOH detected in our slices appear to be compatible with those expected in FASD. Our results are in agreement with previous studies reporting that following a relatively protracted incubation with EtOH, its withdrawal from the medium produces CA1 pyramidal cell injury in organotypic hippocampal slices cultured for at least 10 DIV (Harris et al., ; Prendergast et al., ; Self et al., ).…”

Alcohol Withdrawal and Flumazenil: Not for the Faint of Heart

“…Our experience breeds expertise that guides the management of this complex clinical problem not just in the ED, but during the patient's entire course in the hospital. This is well illustrated in the paper published in this issue by Moore et al, which looked at the concluding steps in the treatment of such patients [2].…”

Antagonizing the errors of history: bedside experience with flumazenil

“…All are included in the category of alcohol abuse or dependence. Some of these cases overlap with a more focused study of the use of flumazenil in patients with alcohol withdrawal at PinnacleHealth [13].…”