Acute intoxications in the Emergency Center of the “Enrique Cabrera” General Teaching Hospital, 2009-2010: retrospective clinical series

Abstract

Introduction. Acute poisoning is a medical emergency determined by exposure to different substances, which can result in patient demise. Objectives. To characterize patients exposed to acute poisoning treated at the Emergency Center of the “Enrique Cabrera” General Teaching Hospital, Havana, from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010. Method. A retrospective clinical series of 208 patients admitted with acute poisoning. Variables were selected for the study according to the objectives and distributions of absolute and relative frequencies were calculated. Results. Patients were predominantly female and in the 20-29 age group. Suicide intent was the most frequent factor while accidental poisoning increased with age. Pharmaceutical drugs were the most common etiologic agents, with predominance of psychotropic drugs and poly-medication. Bacterial bronchopneumonia was the most common complication of hospitalized cases. Conclusions. Acute poisoning was seen mainly in young women as suicidal intent, being drugs the most common agents.