[Necrosis of the terminal ileum after drug poisoning. Case report]

In an attempt to commit suicide, a 32-year-old women swallowed a vast amount of psychiatric drugs, i.e. tranquilizers, amphetamines, hynotic and antidepressant agents. By intensive care, using high doses of catecholamines and appropriate antidota, satisfactory circulation and oxygenation could be maintained. 3 days after admission a peritonitis became apparent. A 50 cm long section of the distal ileum was found to be completely necrotic and had to be resected. However, circulation of the correspondent mesenterium was not disturbed at all. A drug-induced non-occlusive intestinal ischemia was postulated to be the pathophysiological mechanism of intestinal necrosis. Non-occlusive intestinal ischemia is rare; it has been reported in young adults intoxicated by cocaine or phenobarbital, in children with high overdosage of iron compounds, in elderly individuals suffering from low-output congestive heart disease and in patients treated with digitalis drugs, with or with or without overdosage.