[Drug poisoning]. / Intoxicación por drogas.

A review is made of acute poisoning by opiates and its treatment in the emergency services, bearing in mind the progressive decline in the number of cases presented with the arrival of new forms of their administration, as well as the presence of new addictive drugs that have resulted in a shift in consumption habits. Reference is also made to the way in which the different types of existing substances originated, with the aim of achieving a better understanding of their use and in order to administer the most suitable treatment when poisoning occurs. Cocaine poisoning is discussed, with reference to its clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment. The consumption of illegal drugs in our country has undergone a notable change in recent years, with heroin being relegated and the incorporation of cocaine, amphetamine derivatives such as "ecstasy" (MDMA), "liquid ecstasy" (GHB) and, to a lesser extent, ketamine. A review is made of cannabis and its derivates, from the history of its consumption and the preparations employed to the effects produced in the different bodily systems. A brief explanation is also given of its metabolites and its principal mechanisms of action. Finally, we comment on the effects of LSD and hallucinogenic mushrooms.

Intoxicación por drogas / Drug poisoning

El consumo de drogas ilegales en nuestro país ha experimentado un notable cambio en los últimos años, relegando a la heroína e incorporando la cocaína, los derivados anfetamínicos como el “éxtasis” (MDMA), el “éxtasis líquido” (GHB) y, en menor medida, la ketamina. Se lleva a cabo una revisión de la intoxicación aguda por opiáceos y de su tratamiento en los servicios de urgencias, teniendo en cuenta el descenso progresivo de los casos que se presentan con el advenimiento de nuevas formas de administración, así como la presencia de nuevas drogas adictivas que han dado lugar a un desplazamiento en los hábitos de consumo. Se expone la intoxicación por cocaína haciendo referencia a la clínica, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento. Se realiza una revisión sobre el cannabis y sus derivados, la historia de su consumo y preparaciones utilizadas, los efectos que producen en los distintos sistemas del organismo y sus principales mecanismos de acción. Por último se comentan los efectos del LSD y de las setas alucinógenas (AU)

[Morbidity and mortality among the hospitalized aged. Identification of prognostic factors]. / Morbimortalidad hospitalaria en la cuarta edad. Identificación de factores pronósticos.

BACKGROUND: Advancing age is an independent predictor of increased mortality. Our purpose was to study morbimortality in very elderly inpatients (Eighty years and older) and to recognize risk factors of hospital-associated mortality. METHODS: All consecutive eighty years and older patients admitted at the Hospital over a one year period were studied. On the first day we collected: symptoms, signs, presumed diagnostic, arterial blood pressure, pulse and respiratory frequency, level of alertness, hydration status, level of hemoglobin, plasma urea, creatinine, Na, K, albumin and arterial blood gases. We also collected end-stay diagnostic and outcome. RESULTS: A total of 131 patients were included with a mean age 83.92 +/- 3.53 (+/-SD). The most frequent diseases were heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke and pneumonia. While inpatient 21 (16%) died (Mean age 85.42 +/- 4.46, p < 0.05). Patients whose admission symptoms were arthralgia, myalgia, diarrhea, anemia, syncope and hemiparesis (p < 0.05) and whose presumed diagnostic were rheumatic disease (p < 0.01) and nephrourological disorder (p < 0.001) had lower mortality. A presumed diagnostic on admission of pneumonia had higher mortality (p < 0.05). Risk factors associated with higher mortality were dehydrations signs, decreased alertness status, hypoalbuminemia and elevated plasma urea (p < 0.001). When analysed altogether in order to predict Hospital-associated death had sensitivity 80%, specificity 87%, truepredictive rate 44% and false-predictive rate 97%. CONCLUSIONS: Morbidity of the very elderly patients is caused by chronic disorders. Pneumonia is a leading cause of death mainly in patients with decreased level of alertness, dehydration, hypoalbuminemia and elevated plasma urea.