Key investigations
Laboratory investigations are usually unnecessary in patients with clinical features of mild ethanol intoxication. However, all children who have ingested ethanol must have a serum glucose concentration.
For patients with clinical features of moderate to severe ethanol intoxication, key investigations include:
- serum ethanol concentration1
- blood glucose concentration
- serum electrolyte, urea and creatinine concentrations
- blood gas analysis, including lactate concentration (severe intoxication).
Additional investigations may be required depending on patient-specific factors (eg if trauma has occurred as a result of ethanol intoxication, specific imaging may be required).
For patients with clinical features of life-threatening ethanol intoxication, seek advice from a clinical toxicologist on the appropriate investigations.
In patients presenting with coma and a serum ethanol concentration less than 65 mmol/L (0.30%), consider the possibility of co-ingestants or other causes of CNS depression (eg head injury or infectionMorgan, 2015). Regardless of the initial serum ethanol concentration, in patients showing no improvement in conscious state over the 2 to 4 hours following assessment, investigate for other causes of CNS depression.