coma (alcohol induced)
Last reviewed 01/2018
In cases of alcohol induced coma coincident head injury, hepatic failure and meningitis should be exluded.
A blood test will confirm substantial levels of alcohol and rule out alcoholic hypoglycaemia.
The airway and circulation must be maintained but glucose- containing fluids may precipitate Wernicke's encephalopathy.
Intravenous naloxone has reversed coma in a proportion of cases.