J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  1999 Sep;10(3):431-440.

A Clinical Analysis of Acute Drug Intoxication in Emergency Department Setting

• Kang JH
• Lee HN
• Jin YH
• Lee JB

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, acute drug intoxication is a important section of emergency medicine. The purpose of this study was to determine what is the best-way to manage acutely intoxicated patients with drug in emergency department setting.
METHODS
Clinical assessment were made on 135 cases of drug intoxication visited to emergency center of Hospital during one year from June 1997 to May 1998.
RESULTS
1. The total number of cases of acute drug intoxication was 135 which is 0.5% of total patients presented to emergency center. 2. There was no sexual difference in incidence, but the highest incidence of age group was in 3rd decade(23.7%) and the next was 7th decade(20.0%). 3. High frequency of acute intoxication was observed in autumn. October had the largest portion in monthly distribution. The largest portion of presumed time of poisoning was noon - 4 p.m. and of the time on arrival to emergency center was 8 p.m. -midnight. 4. Suicidal attempt was the most common motive of intoxication (72.6%). 5. The most common drug of intoxication was insecticides (35.7%) and the others were centrally active agents, herbicides in orders. 6. Mental change was observed in 20.7% of patients and the abnormal vital signs were hypertension, tachycardia, and hypotension in order on arrival to emergency center. 7. Mean duration of treatment was 36.1 hours. Mortality rate of the cases was 7.4%.
CONCLUSION
The mortality rate was high in patients who ingested relatively fatal drugs (i.e. herbicides, antimicrovials, insecticides), showed mental change on arrival or received mechanical ventilatory care(p<0.05).

MeSH Terms

Emergencies*
Emergency Medicine
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Herbicides
Humans
Hypertension
Hypotension
Incidence
Insecticides
Mortality
Poisoning
Tachycardia
Vital Signs
Herbicides
Insecticides