[Investigation of patients suspected of drinking, who visited emergency department, and their negative influence on emergency medical system].

We investigated the drunken patients visiting the emergency department (ED) to determine their negative influence on emergency medical system in our community. One hundred seven (1.2%) of 8,812 referred patients, including children, was suspected of drinking by the medical stuffs in the ED on the basis of the interview, smell of alcohol on breath, pre-hospital information, and so on. Objective analysis of drinking, such as blood alcohol concentration measurement, was not performed. Both the mean age and the median of the patients were 45 years old. The number of male was 4 times higher than female. Three fourths visited ED during the period from the evening to early morning, when it tends to be confused in ED. Eighty percents were delivered by ambulance service. Over 90% visited ED within 12 hours after drinking. Half of them were classified as moderate or more severe alcohol intoxication level on visiting ED. The medical practice was significantly disturbed by some patients, who were restless, violent, or uncooperative with the medical stuffs. Seven patients attempted suicides during drinking before visiting ED. Two thirds of the patients were diagnosed as mild, and left ED after simple medical treatment. Only 6.5% were indicated to admission and the urgent operations were performed on three patients. The CAGE was obtained from 55 patients, and half of them were positive to two or more questions, indicating suffering from alcohol disorder. Half of the patients drank over 60g of alcohol in one day, and 61% drank in four or more days in one week. Result of the investigation of the drunken patients visiting ED reveals negative influence on emergency medical system.