UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Toxicology

Title: Ethanol Withdrawal

Keywords: CIWA, alcohol, withdrawal (PubMed Search)

Posted: 7/26/2012 by Fermin Barrueto (Updated: 10/6/2024)
Click here to contact Fermin Barrueto

CIWA-Ar (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol Scale, Revised)

The use of a scoring system for the disposition of an ethanol withdrawal patient can be helpful. The CIWA-Ar Score can guide both treatment in the ED as well as admission versus discharge. Most studies have verified that a score of <8 can be treated outpatient; 8-15 requires treatment and >15 wil require admission/IV benzodiazepines.

N/V: 0-7 (None to Constant N/V)

Tremor: 0-7 (None to Severe even with arms not extended)

Sweats: 0-7 (None to Drenching Sweats)

Anxiety: 0-7 (None to panic attack/delirium)

Agitation: 0-7 (None to pacing/thrashing during interview)

Tactile Disturbance: 0-7 (Mild itching to Continuous Hallucinations)

Auditory Disturbances: 0-7 (None to Continuous Hallucinations)

Visual Disturbances: 0-7 (None to Continuous Hallucinations)

Headache: 1-7 (Miild to Extremely Severe)

Orientation: 0-4

Go to this website to see the actual tool and how it should be administered:

http://www.regionstrauma.org/blogs/ciwa.pdf