Retrospective Investigation of Intoxication Cases That Require Mechanical Ventilation

Abstract

Aim: Intoxication cases are hospitalized in intensive care units not for intervention but for close observation and monitoring. Endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation may sometimes be required. Materials and Methods: In total, 2118 intoxication cases have been hospitalized in our toxicology intensive care unit sequentially between March 2011 and March 2013. Of these patients, 23 cases that required endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation were included in this retrospective study; data was obtained by screening the patient files. Results: Twenty-three cases (1.1%) required mechanical ventilation, and only 7 cases (0.33%) died. The most common reasons for requiring mechanical ventilation were unconsciousness and respiratory failure. During hospitalization, they were attached to mechanical ventilator for a mean of 4.17 days. While the mean duration of mechanical ventilation of patients with organophosphate intoxication was 6.92 days, the other non-organophosphate intoxication group was 1.18 days. There is significant statistical difference between two groups (p<0.01). We compared the organophosphate intoxication group with other non-organophosphate intoxication group for Glasgow Coma Scale, arterial blood gas, C-reactive protein, and pro-calcitonin and troponin levels at initial admission. Pro-calcitonin levels were significantly high in the organophosphate group. Conclusion: Intoxication cases that require mechanical ventilation can differ from classical intoxication epidemiology for age and sex. Organophosphate intoxications are one of the intoxication types that require mechanical ventilation and have the highest mortality. (JAEM 2015; 14: 2-7)