Symptom-driven lorazepam protocol for treatment of severe alcohol withdrawal delirium in the intensive care unit.

Study Objective: To compare outcomes of treating alcohol withdrawal delirium (AWD) with a symptom-driven benzodiazepine protocol versus nonprotocol benzodiazepine infusions in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Design: Retrospective observational study of a quality improvement project.

Setting: Medical intensive care unit at a Veterans Affairs medical center.