Retrospective evaluation of poisonings in a pediatric intensive care unit: 4 years of experience

Abstract

Aim We defined clinical characteristics of patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with a diagnosis of poisoning.Methods The study was designed as a retrospective, uni-center, cross-sectional study. All patients who were admitted to the PICU for poisoning by a chemical substance between December 2012 and June 2017 were included in the study. We recorded the frequency of patients admitted to the PICU with poisoning as well as their clinical characteristics.Results Overall, 1093 patients were admitted to PICU during study period including 223 patients with poisoning due to chemical substances. The incidence of admissions due to poisoning was 11.7%. The poisoning was unintentional in 58.3% (n = 130) of patients, and it was associated with suicidal intent in 39.9% (n = 89) and substance abuse in 1.8% (n = 4). Neither clinical nor laboratory findings were observed in 69.5% (n = 155) of these patients. An antidote was used in 17.5% of patients, with N-acetyl cysteine being the antidote most commonly used. A combination of an analgesic-antitussive-decongestant was the most common agent (7.7%) resulting in poisoning. Colchicine intoxication was seen in 3.4% of patients, a markedly higher incidence than reported in the literature.Discussion It is important to identify characteristics in poisoning as a basis for taking appropriate measures and developing treatment plans.

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