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Acute salicylate self‐poisoning in 177 consecutive patients treated in ICU
Author(s) -
Thisted B.,
Krantz T.,
Ström J.,
Sørensen M. Bredgaard
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1987.tb02574.x
Subject(s) - medicine , intensive care unit , autopsy , anesthesia , cerebral edema , respiratory failure , respiratory system , surgery
The course of 177 consecutive patients with severe salicylate self‐poisoning treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) during a period of 15 years is presented. On admission, cerebral depression was observed in 61%, respiratory failure was present in 47%, acidosis in 36% and cardiovascular function was impaired in 14%. A mortality rate of 15%, was observed, which was proportionally higher in patients more than 40 years old and in patients with delayed diagnosis. Twenty‐seven patients died and an autopsy was performed on 26 patients. The main autopsy diagnosis was ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract in 46%, pulmonary oedema in 46%, cerebral oedema in 31% and cerebral haemorrhage in 23%.