The influence of alcohol on the outcome of trauma patients: a matched-pair analysis of the TraumaRegister DGU

background and purposeIn the diagnosis and treatment of trauma patients, numerous individual and trauma-related factors must be considered, all of which may influence the outcome. Although alcohol exposure is a major risk factor for an accident, its influence on the outcome is unclear. This matched-pair analysis investigates the hypothesis that alcohol has no negative impact on the outcome of trauma patients. MATERIALS AND

methodsIn a retrospective matched-pair analysis of the multi-centre database of the TraumaRegister DGU

resultsAfter matching, a total of 834 patients were enrolled, with 417 patients in group with positive blood alcohol levels (BAL +) with a median alcohol level of 1.82‰ and 417 patients in the negative-alcohol group (BAL -). As a mechanism of injury, the BAL + group showed more often penetrating injuries, pedestrian accidents and low energy falls compared to car and motorcycle accidents in the BAL - group. BAL + patients were significantly less sedated (BAL -: 66.7% vs. BAL + : 56.2%, p = 0.002), less frequently transported by rescue helicopter, were more frequently hypotensive (BAL -: 42 patients (10.3%) vs. BAL + : 61 patients (15.2%), p = 0.045, Table 2) and exhibited lower base excess levels associated with an acidotic metabolic status compared to sober patients (acidosis: BAL -: 24 patients (6.1%) vs. BAL + : 61 patients (17.2%), p < 0.001). There was no difference regarding in-hospital complications, length of stay or mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Our data demonstrate that alcohol exposure in trauma patients has no impact on complication or mortality rates. On the other hand, there are initially clear differences in the mechanism of injury, sedation, mode of transport and the acid-base balance.