Emergency physicians' opinions on the use of intravenous fluids to treat patients intoxicated with ethanol (alcohol): attitudes of emergency medicine physicians in the North East of England toward the use of intravenous fluids to treat individuals intoxicated with ethanol (alcohol) attending the emergency department compared with the scientific evidence.

Objectives: There is an apparent conflict between published evidence and UK emergency medicine (EM) physician practice with regard to the use of intravenous fluids to treat patients intoxicated with alcohol. We conducted a survey of all EM physicians in North East (NE) England to determine opinion with regard to this therapy, and compared this with the available evidence for its benefit.

Methods: We identified 136 EM consultants and trainees in NE England.