Alcohol withdrawal after open aortic surgery

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that unexpected alcohol with drawal-like syndrome (AWLS) is more common following aortic, but not other, vascular or nonvascular procedures. All patients undergoing open aortic su rgery at our institution in 1997 who survived at least 48 hr were identifie d, as were those undergoing carotid endarterectomy, infrainguinal bypass, a nd total colectomy. AWLS was defined as prolonged confusion or agitation an d response to conventional treatment for withdrawal, providing that all oth er sources had been ruled out or a significant history was present. Our res ults show that, for unknown reasons, AWLS is more common after aortic surge ry than after other vascular and high-stress, nonaortic intraabdominal proc edures at our institution, and is associated with increased length of stay and morbidity. Because prophylaxis may improve outcome, better efforts to i dentify patients at risk are required.