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Unusual Abdominal Complications of a Suicidal Overdose of Analgesic and Psychotropic Drugs in an Elderly Patient
Author(s) -
MEHTA D.,
MEHTA S.,
MATHEW P.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1978.tb01955.x
Subject(s) - medicine , exploratory laparotomy , abdominal pain , nausea , anorexia , pancreatitis , anesthesia , surgery
A suicidal 67‐year‐old woman with manic‐depressive psychosis took an overdose of aspirin, amitriptyline and diazepam. The initial effects were pyrexia, tachycardia, hyperpnea, metabolic acidosis, electrocardiographic changes, hypo‐prothrombinemia, gastritis, and pancreatitis. Four to six weeks later, she was examined because of persistent abdominal pain with nausea, anorexia, anemia, and possibly a malabsorption syndrome. An exploratory laparotomy was performed. The surgeon found several adhesions, a small intestinal volvulus, and a nodular pancreas. This suggested previous perforation of the small bowel from enteritis, causing a “blind‐loop” syndrome. The involved section of the small bowel was resected. With appropriate treatment, the patient is well three months after operation.