Characteristics of poisoning cases in adult intensive care unit in Sanliurfa, Turkey

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective study was to analyze the rate and characteristics of acute poisoning cases admitted to adult intensive care unit (ICU).

METHODS: All cases of acute poisoning admitted to ICU of the Harran University Hospital, Turkey, between July 2002 and May 2005, were included in this study. Clinical, laboratory, and demographic characteristics, type of poison and patient's outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS: There were 86 poisoning cases among 844 patients admitted to the ICU. The mean age was 26 ± 9 years and the majority of the patients (56.9%) were 15-24 years of ages. Eighty percent of acute poisonings were self-inflicted and 65.2% of these patients were singles. Medical drugs overdose were the major cause (51.2%) of intoxication followed by agricultural chemicals (37.2%). The most frequently involved medicinal drugs were benzodiazepines, antidepressants and analgesics. Eleven patients in pesticides-rodenticides and 9 patients in other medical drugs poisoning have required mechanical ventilation between 1-12 days. The duration of the intensive care stay was 6.4 ± 4.3 days. Five cases (5.8%) with acute poisonings were fatal.

CONCLUSION: There was a high rate of suicides attempt in young singles, predominantly female population. These data were the highest agricultural activity of the country that provide important information about the characteristics of poisoning at the city.