Effects of ethanol ingestion on the severity and outcome of trauma.

Review of 1,198 patients with regard to outcome and the presence or absence of detectable ethanol in the blood as determined in the emergency room demonstrated no difference in the severity of injury in those who had been drinking and those who had not. Mortality was significantly lower in those who had been drinking. There were no other significant differences in the two groups. The mechanism by which this occurs is not well understood but may be related to an augmentation of the catecholamine response normally seen after injury.