[Acute poisoning in patients of a medical intensive care unit]

Data on 674 patients, admitted between 1986 and 1990 to a medical intensive care unit with acute poisoning (8.8% of total admissions), were analysed retrospectively. Females slightly predominated (53.4%); the age distribution peaked in the third decade of life. Attempted suicide made up 68.7 of all cases (64.8% in females), while 30% of intoxications were accidental (70.8% in males). Alcohol was the most common form of poison (41.4%), followed by benzodiazepines (27%) and psychoactive drugs (24.5%), more than one drug having been taken in 36.1% of cases. Artificial ventilation was needed in 14.2% of cases, while resuscitation was necessary in 1.6%. Forms of detoxication were: gastric lavage (58%), forced diuresis (6.4%), haemoperfusion (10.1%), haemodialysis (3.4%). An anticholinergic syndrome developed in 8% of cases, pneumonia in 3%, acute renal failure in 1.2%. Rhabdomyolysis occurred in 2.5%. The death rate was 1.2%.