Self-poisoning patients in an intensive care unit

The purpose of the present study was to analyze 147 self-poisoning cases, admitted within one year to an intensive care unit (ICU). About half the patients had taken only one substance. The most important poisons were alcohol (52% of the cases), neuroleptics (37%), anxiolytics (28%), hypnotics (27%), antidepressants (16%) and analgesics (13%). On admission, 25% of patients were hypotensive, 25% of patients had cardiac arrhythmias or conduction disturbances. Retention of carbon dioxide was found in 28% of cases. In 60% of the patients emptying of the stomach contents was performed. Four patients, all of whom survived, were treated with haemodialysis. Most of the patients were treated in the ICU for less than two days. Three patients died, all of whom had taken large amounts of poisons and/or were in a critical condition on admission. Among men the most common psychiatric disorder preceding the poisoning was alcoholism: among women it was depression. A very serious attempt at suicide was considered to be the reason with 38% of the cases. About two thirds of the patients were sent for psychiatric aftercare. To reduce further suicide attempts, large general hospitals should have psychiatric outpatient clinics or consultation facilities.