Barbiturate studies. II. Correlation between clinical condition and blood barbiturate levels.

Abstract

2, '• 8 Thus, rapid and reliable chemical data are available to corroborate the diagnosis of barbiturate intoxication. However, there are little available data on the correlation between the patient's clinical condition and his blood bar­ biturate level. It is difficult, therefore, to determine if a patient's clinical condi­ tion is due to barbiturate intoxication alone or whether other complicating factors are present. Fisher, 1 Wright, 9 Reed 5 and Roche 6 have presented data on blood barbiturate levels and the clinical condition of patients. Relatively few cases cited by these investigators were followed beyond the initial analysis and observation. This study concerns the clinical condition of barbiturate intoxicated patients as a function of their blood barbiturate levels. Where urine samples were avail­ able, renal excretion was studied. METHODS Blood samples were drawn at various intervals from patients admitted to several Cleveland hospitals with barbiturate intoxication. The samples were drawn upon admission, 12 hours after admission and at 24-hour intervals there­ after. The clinical condition of the patient was noted and categorized each time when blood was drawn for analysis. The blood samples were analyzed, using Goldbaum's technic, 2 which determines both the amount and type of barbiturate present. Whenever possible, 24-hour urine samples were also collected and analyzed to ascertain renal excretion.