A study of patients with acute poisoning admitted to Critical Medicine Department at Alexandria Main University Hospital

Abstract

Acute polsonmg IS on the mcrease nowadays due to the rapid development in the phannacutical industries and more exposure of the victims to different types of drugs and chemical materials. Many patients need intensive care and immediate stabilization of their vital organs. The present work aimed to study the pattern of patients with acute poisoning, admitted to CCU at Alexandria Main University Hospital as regards frequency, clinical presentations, type of poison, management and outcome. The study entailed 163 patients with acute poisoning admitted to critical care •unit (CCU) during six months period starting from the first of March 2000 till the end of August 2000.They constituted 3.0% of the total patients with acute poisoning admitted to Alexandria Main University Hospital during the same period (n =5445). As regards causes of admission to CCU, the study revealed that acute poisoning was considered as the third cause of admission to CCU (17.4%) after circulatory disorders and trauma (45.2% & 17.8% respectively ).