[Suicide attempt with high-dose ecstasy]

The case of a 16-year-old female patient is reported, who has taken in 30 tablets of Ecstasy in a suicide attempt. Initially were seen a tachycardia,hyperdynamic circulation, dehydration, leg-myocloni in the awake excited female patient. For prophylaxis of aspiration general anaesthesia and intubation with following gastric lavage were performed. During the intensive care treatment the high blood pressure persisted, although general anaesthesia and anti-hypertensive therapy was continued. After extubation the neurologic status of the patient was normal. Emergency physicians see more and more often Ecstasy-intoxications. Signs of an acute intoxication with Ecstasy are a sympathomimetic reaction with tachycardia,hypertonic blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmia as well as fever, respiratory and renal insufficiency, rhabdomyolysis, cerebral edema and convulsion. A specific antidote does not exist; the symptomatic therapy consists of airway management, hemodynamic stabilisation, primary drug-elimination and, in case of need, application of betablockers and relaxants.