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Parenteral thiamine use in the prevention and treatment of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 5HF

Valerie Kippen, Senior Pharmacist

Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh

Fiona Hutcheson, Clinical Effectiveness Facilitator

Edenhall Hospital, Musselburgh

Andrew McIntosh, Lecturer in Psychiatry

Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh

AIMS AND METHOD

A pre-/post-intervention audit of 163 case notes was conducted to assess the efficacy of printing information about the identification and treatment of the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome on the hospital alcohol detoxification sheet.

RESULTS

Parenteral thiamine was indicated in 42 of 163 patients; 26 had symptoms suggestive of Wernicke’s encephalopathy and 16 were at risk. The intervention increased the chance of appropriate parenteral treatment by an odds ratio of 5.9 (95% Cl 1.3-27.8). Admission to a specialist alcohol unit increased the chance of appropriate treatment by an odds ratio of 7.0 (95% Cl 1.52-32.25).The mean number of doses rose from 3.08 to 4.62.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

A simple intervention may lead to improved treatment of patients with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.

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