Case challenge · Emergency / Critical care / Addiction · teaching

Alcohol Withdrawal / Delirium Tremens — Management Pathway · case challenge

Given a case, work through the care pathway step by step; the tool checks each choice and scores you. Decisions and basis are taken from this site's reviewed care pathways.

← View the full flowchartBased on CIWA-Ar / ASAM

Case #1Emergency / Critical care / Addiction

📋 Case data

Withdrawal severityMild–moderate (CIWA-Ar assessable)

Data is taken from this pathway's reviewed node text. Work through the pathway step by step.

Step 1 / 1 · Withdrawal severity

Withdrawal severity (CIWA-Ar, any DTs)?

💡 Onset 6–8 h after the last drink (anxiety, tremor, sweating, tachycardia, low-grade fever), peaking at 24–72 h; complications include withdrawal seizures (12–48 h) and delirium tremens (DTs, 48–96 h, altered mentation + autonomic hyperactivity + agitation, can be fatal). Use the CIWA-Ar scale. All patients: thiamine before glucose (prevent Wernicke), folate, and magnesium/potassium/phosphate repletion.

For teaching. Decisions and their basis are taken from this site's reviewed care pathways; for licensed clinicians/trainees, this does not replace clinical judgment or local protocols.