Clinical Course in Acute Self-poisonings: A Prospective Study of 1125 Consecutively Hospitalised Adults

Abstract

The clinical course in an unselected group of 1125 consecutively hospitalised self-poisonings was studied during 1 year in Oslo. Mortality was 0.5%, but only 0.3% in those admitted without cardiac and respiratory arrest. Mortality among those in grade IV coma was 4.2%. The deepest comas (grade III or IV) occurred in 25.1% of the admissions with a mean duration of the coma of 5.8 h (range 1-80). Complications occurred in 21.7% of the admissions and 6.9% suffered more than one complication of which the most frequent were respiratory depression (13.5%), hypotension (5.3%), pneumonia (4.4%), and hypothermia (1.6%). The complication rate was highest in poisonings with opiates (60.7%), meprobamate (37.5%) and antihistamines (30.0%). Arrhythmias and respiratory depression were closely associated with poisonings with antidepressants and opiates, respectively. Owing to frequent polydrug overdoses it was difficult to associate other complications with other main toxic agents. Administration of antidotes (20.6%), cuffed intubation (4.4%) and forced alkaline diuresis (3.4%) were the most frequent special therapeutic measures taken. The change in pattern of self-poisonings in Oslo focuses on antidote therapy and intensive care, especially outside hospital, but limits the need for haemodialysis and haemoperfusion which were performed in only 1.0% of the admissions.