Question

In ED what do you give to prevent "wet brain?"

A) Ignore the need for prevention in the emergency department.
B) Give any medication available.
C) Administer specific treatment to prevent "wet brain."
D) "Wet brain" prevention is not relevant in the emergency department.

Answer 1

To prevent 'wet brain' in the ED, administer thiamine to at-risk patients, often those with chronic alcoholism, before providing glucose-containing solutions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term "wet brain" refers to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a severe brain disorder often resulting from a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1), which is commonly seen in patients with chronic alcoholism. In the emergency department (ED), the correct approach to prevent 'wet brain' is C) Administer specific treatment to prevent "wet brain." This involves the administration of thiamine to patients at risk, especially before any glucose-containing solutions are given. This is because carbohydrate metabolism depends on thiamine and administering glucose without preceding or concurrent thiamine supplementation can precipitate or exacerbate Wernicke's encephalopathy, a component of 'wet brain.'