Complications of endotracheal intubation in patients treated for acute poisoning

In a group of 141 patients treated for coma following poisoning, complications of endotracheal intubation were assessed. The results of this study indicate that prolonged intubation is not quite safe and that serious complications occur in several per cent of cases. Complications are more common when intubation is prolonged over 24 hours. It was observed that hypoxaemia and hypercapnia have an unfavourable effect on the incidence of complications.