One Year Study of Chest X-Ray Changes in Opiate -poisoned Patients in Hamadan

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Intoxication with opiates is one of the most common causes of referring to emergency departments in Iran. Because respiratory signs are one of the most common and important signs in these patients, this study was designed to evaluate the chest x-ray changes of the patients.Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional one. The changes noted in the Chest X-Ray (CXR) of the patients having been intoxicated with opiates and referred with respiratory signs of intoxication during the one year period between July 2007 till July 2008 to Farshchian Hospital in Hamadan were studied. The data, then, were gathered and analyzed using T and chi-square statistical tests.Results: Out of 1698 patients having referred due to poisoning with drugs and chemical agents, 318(18.72%) patients were admitted due to opiates intoxication. Among them, 214 (67.29%) had respiratory signs. 84.1% were male and 15.9% were female. Their average age was 35.6. The most important substance used was opium (57.5%).Most of the cases (84.1%) were due to abuse. The most common physical signs were: miosis (83.6%), respiratory distress (74.8%), rales & wheezing (67.3%). The most common radiographic abnormality was pulmonary edema (14.5%). And the most common substance causing pulmonary edema was crack (59.4%) revealing a significant statistical difference (p=0.001). Conclusion: As expected, one of the most important complications and common causes of death in opiate-poisoned patients was respiratory problems; we suggest that physicians and staffs working in the emergency department be well-trained in management of such patients.Keywords: Radiography, Thoracic; Analgesics, Opioid; Poisoning; Pulmonary Edema.

Keywords

• Radiography
• Thoracic
• Analgesics
• Opioid
• Poisoning
• Pulmonary Edema.