Creation of Foundations for Emergency Clinical Toxicology Service in Russia

Abstract

The creation of the organizational foundations of clinical toxicology began after its separation in the first half of the 20th century from forensic medicine, pharmacology, and military and industrial toxicology. In this, the research started in the therapeutic clinic of the N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Medicine is important, which led to the opening of the country’s first toxicological department at the Institute and made it possible to resolve acute poisoning (AP) issues at a new level. The obvious successes achieved in this direction by the employees of the department served as a prerequisite for the creation of Republican and All-Union AP treatment centers on the basis of the N.V. Sklifosovsky Institute, where employees began actively work on the preparation of relevant regulatory documents and the organization of toxicological centers (departments) in the regions. As a result, by the end of the twentieth century, the foundation of the toxicological service was created in the Russian Federation — a network of 44 centers (departments) for AP treatment in 41 regions, which today provide specialized assistance to the population of 50% of the territory of the Russian Federation and serves as the basis for the implementation of advanced achievements in this area.An outstanding role in the formation of clinical toxicology as a new direction in clinical medicine and the creation of a scientific school of clinical toxicologists belongs to E.A. Luzhnikov, member of RAS.Creation of the organizational foundations of urgent clinical toxicology and its formation as an independent scientific and practical direction in medicine, in which a significant contribution belongs to the staff of N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Medicine, are closely related to scientific and practical achievements in this area, the prompt response of specialists to the toxicological situation in the country, as well as adoption of the experience gained in the course of organizational and information and advisory activities. At the same time, timely preparation and publication of legal and regulatory documents regulating practical work in this area are of particular importance.