CIWA-Ar
Pronunciation: SEE-wah
Also written as: CIWA-Ar — Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-revised
Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-revised, a standardized scale for monitoring alcohol withdrawal severity.
Full Definition
The CIWA-Ar is a validated assessment tool used to quantify the severity of alcohol withdrawal syndrome and guide medication dosing during detoxification. The scale measures ten symptoms including tremor, paroxysmal sweats, anxiety, agitation, tactile disturbances, auditory disturbances, visual disturbances, headache, and orientation. Scores range from 0-67, with higher scores indicating more severe withdrawal requiring increased medical intervention.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalize; the 'r' in 'Ar' should be lowercase to distinguish from the original CIWA.
In Context
- "The patient's CIWA-Ar score of 15 indicated moderate withdrawal requiring pharmacological intervention." — Nursing assessment note
- "CIWA-Ar monitoring should be performed every four hours during the acute phase of detoxification." — Clinical protocol