ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyse demographic and epidemiologic characteristics, clinical course, laboratory results and prognosis of patients who were admitted to Haseki Training and Research Hospital Intensive Care Unit due to intoxication between 24.11 2007 and 21.02.2013.

We evaluated age, gender, types of intoxication (accident, suicide), etiology, length of stay, mortality rate, duration of mechanical ventilation, and blood pressure, heart rate and symptoms at the time of admission. Patients who took multiple drugs were recorded. Liver and kidney function tests, blood glucose, complete blood count parameters, electrolytes and arterial blood gas values at the time of admission were evaluated.

A total of 59 cases of intoxication were studied. 59.7% of patients were male, 42.4% were female. The mean age was 32±13 years. 86.4% of cases occurred due to suicide attempts and 13.6%, accidentally. In our study, it was found that the most common intoxication agents were paracetamol and amitriptyline, and the most common cause of death was methyl alcohol intoxication.

Our results showed that a significant portion of the intoxication cases admitted to the intensive care unit were young adults who attempted suicide by overdosing on drugs.