#85 ‘One too many’; the burden of alcohol on a major trauma centre

<h3>Introduction</h3> This study aims to describe the incidence of alcohol related trauma and the impact this has, both on patients and on a hospital system. <h3>Methods</h3> This is a 6 month (January to July) retrospective study identifying patients who were traumatically injured, admitted to a major trauma centre and reviewed by the inpatient trauma service (IPTS) in Cork University Hospital (CUH). Patients were included based on self-declaration of consumption of alcohol, reference to intoxication in the initial patient assessment by emergency medicine or on pre-hospital documents and ethanol levels taken in the Emergency Department. Patients were assessed based on the inclusion criteria set by the IPTS for consult/co-management. <h3>Results</h3> 20% (n=99) of patients who were reviewed by the IPTS in this 6 month period were intoxicated, 92% (n = 91) of whom had consumed alcohol prior to presentation. 36% of these patients had an ISS &gt;15. 20% (n=18) of patients were involved in Road Traffic Collision, 25% (n=23) sustained a fall &gt;2m, 26% (n=24) had a fall &lt;2m, 21% (n-19) were involved in assault. 40% suffered traumatic brain injuries (inclusive of mild to severe TBIs), 14% had chest wall injuries and 11% had upper/lower limb injuries. In total 995 bed days were taken by this particular patient cohort. 21% of patients were directly admitted to the intensive care unit, 7% (n=6) died as a result of their injuries. Each patient had an average length of stay of 11 days in an acute hospital. 24% of patients required operative intervention for the trauma they sustained. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Patients who were admitted to CUH with injuries sustained in the context of alcohol present with significant injuries, requiring the input of significant resources and hospital bed days. Head injuries are the most common injury requiring specialist rehabilitation input and substantial recovery periods which extend beyond the acute hospital with limited egress options and community supports.