Serum ethanol levels in children and adults after ethanol embolization or sclerotherapy for vascular anomalies

PURPOSE: To evaluate the serum ethanol level in children and adults after e thanol embolization or sclerotherapy for vascular anomalies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum ethanol level was evaluated in 71 patients wit h vascular anomalies who underwent ethanol embolization, sclerotherapy, or both. Blood used to determine serum ethanol level was drawn at the end of e ach procedure. RESULTS: The relationship between serum ethanol level and amount of ethanol administered was statistically significant. Results of stepwise linear reg ression analysis showed that the amount of ethanol administered (P <.001) a nd type of malformation (P=.02) were multivariate predictors of serum ethan ol level. Results of logistic regression analysis revealed that the only un i- or multivariate predictor of intoxication was the amount of ethanol admi nistered (P =.018). Five patients fulfilled the criteria for legal intoxica tion, and the mean amount of ethanol administered to these patients was 0.8 7 mt per kilogram of body weight +/- 0.18 (SD) (range, 0.55-0.99 mL/kg). CONCLUSION: The volume of ethanol administered is the most reliable predict or of serum ethanol level and legal intoxication. Patients who receive up t o 1.0 mL/kg ethanol during embolization or sclerotherapeutic procedures may have elevated serum ethanol levels that could put them at risk of respirat ory depression, cardiac seizures, rhabdomyolysis, and hypoglycemia.