Self-poisoning with metaldehyde.

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Emergency Medicine
• Clinical Case Reports

Background:

• Metaldehyde poisoning is an uncommon but potentially severe condition.
• This case report examines the largest recorded toxic dose of self-administered metaldehyde.
• The study aims to elucidate metaldehyde toxicity features and favorable clinical outcomes.

Observation:

• A patient presented unconscious with symptoms indicative of poisoning.
• Early and comprehensive critical care was initiated, including acid-base correction, ventilatory support, hemodynamic stabilization, and anticonvulsant therapy.
• The patient was admitted to the critical care unit promptly.

Findings:

• The patient ingested over 1.5 times the considered lethal dose of metaldehyde.
• Despite the massive overdose, the patient experienced a near-complete recovery.
• The primary lasting deficit was short-term memory impairment, consistent with other metaldehyde toxicity cases.

Implications:

• Methodical and timely critical care interventions, even without immediate poison identification, can lead to excellent clinical outcomes in severe metaldehyde poisoning.
• This case underscores the importance of fundamental emergency management principles in managing rare toxicological emergencies.
• The findings contribute to understanding metaldehyde toxicity and its emergency management, supported by a review of existing literature.