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Intensive care utilisation following attempted suicide through self-poisoning
1Department of Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
The Ceylon Medical Journal
|March 1, 1997
Summary
Suicide attempts by self-poisoning significantly burden intensive care units (ICUs), requiring extensive resources and leading to preventable deaths. Preventive strategies are crucial to conserve healthcare resources and save lives.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Public Health
- Toxicology
Background:
- Self-poisoning is a common method for suicide attempts.
- Intensive care units (ICUs) manage critically ill patients, including those with self-poisoning.
- Resource allocation in ICUs is a significant healthcare challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the utilization of intensive care resources for patients admitted after suicide attempts via self-poisoning.
- To understand the impact of these admissions on ICU capacity and costs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of clinical records.
- Study conducted at the Intensive Care Unit of a Teaching Hospital in Peradeniya.
- Inclusion of all patients admitted over a five-year period (1991-1995).
Main Results:
- 292 patients admitted for self-poisoning, representing 10.2% of total ICU admissions.
- 52% of patients required mechanical ventilation, with an average ICU stay of 6 days.
- Fifty-three deaths occurred, and daily ICU costs for ventilated patients averaged Rs. 8000.
Conclusions:
- Suicide attempts by self-poisoning represent a significant medical emergency that strains ICU resources.
- There is a critical need for concrete preventive measures to reduce suicide rates.
- Effective prevention can conserve valuable healthcare resources and prevent loss of life.