[Voluntary drug poisoning cases admitted to an emergency care unit]

The aim of this study was to ascertain the specific nature of voluntary drug intoxications seen in emergency wards receiving adult patients.

From July 1992 to June 1993, all patients presenting at the emergency room with voluntary drug intoxication were assessed retrospectively. There were 727 patients (482 females and 245 males, mean age 33.3 +/- 12 years, age range 15-92) admitted for 804 episodes of voluntary drug intoxication.

A past history of psychiatric problems or drug abuse was found in 42.8 and 9.1% of the patients respectively. The time laps between ingestion and consultation was noted for 43% (5 h 30 +/- 9 h, range 15-4320 min). The drug ingested was identified in 89% of the cases and 1.7 drugs were ingested per episode (range 1-8). Generally, only 1 (52%) or 2 (21%) drugs were ingested. Nonbarbituric psychotropic agents were ingested in 79.7% of the cases. Alcohol had also been consumed in 36.5% of the cases. Treatment was gastric lavage in 34.4%, activated carbon in 16.7%, flumazenil in 16.9%, naloxone and N-acetyl-cysteine in 3.4%. Twelve patients required intubation. Patients were admitted to a medical (n = 156) or psychiatric (n = 67) ward or an intensive care unit (n = 61). Nearly 25% of the patients left hospital either against medical advice or left without notice.

Voluntary drug intoxications seen in emergency rooms require care by a well coordinated team of clinicians and psychiatrists.