Perfil de los adolescentes entre 14 y 21 años que acudieron a un servicio de urgencias con intoxicación etílica aguda en 2017

Abstract

Objective: To study the profile and characteristics of the adolescent who visited the emergency room with diagnosis of acute ethyl intoxication (AEI) and the kind of attention received during their stay. Methodology: Retrospective descriptive study of the patients between 14 and 21 years old who visited the emergency service of the General Hospital of Asturias during 2017 with a principal or secondary diagnosis of AEI. Results: A total of 85 patients were attended due to AEI, out of which 54,1% were female and 45,9% were male, having an average age of 17,65 years old. Based on these data, no difference could be found gender-wise in any of the parameters evaluated. 75,3% of patients were attended in the emergency service during the weekend and 80% did it during the night shift (22:00h to 8:00h). 76,5% of patients were given a care priority level 3 (urgent attention within 60 minutes). 78,8% of patients attended the hospital by ambulance. 75,3% of patients had a single AEI diagnostic. The average alcohol poisoning was 201,49 mg/dl. 95,3% of patients was released from the hospital with an average stay of 4:56h. Conclusions: the profile of the patients that attended the service corresponded to a teenager with AEI only, that attended the service in ambulance during the weekend, in the night shift and that required surveillance and control of symptoms derived from excessive alcohol intake prior being released from hospital.