Study of coma due to acute poisoning in an intensive care unit: a protocol for management

ABSTRACT

The study entailed all comatosed patients with diagnosis of acute poisoning [n = 102] admitted to the intensive care unit [ICU] of the Emergency Department at Alexandria Main University Hospital during the year 1987. They constituted 17.5% of the total emergency medical admissions to the ICU Males outnumbered females with a sex ratio of 1.2 1. The highest propotion of patients [43.1%] was in the age group 15-25 years. Attempted suicide by self poisoning was responsible for 63.7% of the total comatosed acutely poisoned patients while accidental poisoning constituted 28.4%. Insecticides and drugs were the leading causes of come due to acute poisoning [39.2% and 37.2%, respectively]. Severe alcoholic intoxication and heroin overdosage were reported in 3.9% each poisoning by gases constituted 15.8%. Patients in come grade 2 constituted 39.2% while those in grade 3 and 4 constituted 60.8%. A standardized protocol manual was suggested for management of comatosed patients with acute poisoning comatosed patients with acute poisoning