Refractory delirium tremens treated with propofol: A case series

Delirium tremens, the most serious manifestation of alcohol withdrawal, occ urs in similar to 5% of hospitalized alcoholics and has a mortality rate ap proaching 15%. Patients with delirium tremens are usually treated in an int ensive care unit in which benzodiazepines form the cornerstone of therapy. In this report, we describe four patients who proved refractory to high dos es of benzodiazepines and were successfully treated with a propofol infusio n.