Acute poisoning as urgent cases and care measures

Abstract

Introduction: Patients with acute poisoning constitute 3-5% of patients treated by emergency physicians. Aim of the study: Determine frequency and etiology of acute poisoning, and factors affecting the outcome. Materials and methods: A retrospective, observational study enrolled patients who were treated by teams of the Emergency Medical Service Novi Sad (EMS) in the period from 01.01.2011. to 31.12.2011. due to acute poisoning. Further diagnostics and therapy were implemented in the Emergency Center (EC). Results: 226 patients with symptoms of acute poisoning were included (53.5% men, 46.5% women). The average patient age was 37.1 years. The principal mode of toxins entry was oral (87.6%). Alcohol poisoning was present in 29.2%, benzodiazepines in 23.5%, combination of alcohol and psychotropic drugs in 14.2% of cases. Prehospital, infusion therapy was initiated in 31%, Naloxone® was given in 10.6% and flumazenil (Anexate®) in 6.2% patients. After detoxication measures and observation 76.5% of patients were referred to psychiatric evaluation. 0.9% of cases had a fatal outcome. Conclusion: Since successful treatment of acute intoxication depends on the quality of initial care, efficient access to EMS, identification of poisoning etiology (toxic substances), and implementation of non-specific treatment (provided the airway, infusion therapy, vomiting provocation) is a good basis for further treatment at hospital level.