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Question 21 (part 2) · LEK · Alcohol use disorders

A 46-year-old male is brought to A&E in an ambulance as he has been experiencing visual hallucinations for 4 hours. His wife reports that for the past two days he has had diarrhoea and has been agitated and disorientated. Two weeks ago he was sacked due to his frequent absences. He cannot find a new job and has been asking his friends for money. The patient has been drinking half a litre of whisky a day for 25 years. His body temperature is 38.5°C, his pulse is 126/min and his blood pressure is 162/102 mm Hg. What’s the best course of action in the case of this patient?

  1. A. admission to hospital with the aim of monitoring his condition and putting under the supervision of a social-care institution.
  2. B. discharge and referral to an outpatient alcohol rehab.
  3. C. intramuscular administration of haloperidol and discharge.
  4. D. IV infusion of ethyl alcohol and discharge.
  5. E. oral administration of diazepam and admission to hospital.
Hint

Visual hallucinations, disorientation, fever, tachycardia and hypertension in a heavy drinker — which life-threatening state needs inpatient care?

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