Evaluation of Acute Intoxication Cases in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Acute Intoxication in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Aim: Poisonings represent a significant number of preventable admissions to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The aim of this study is to evaluate the demographic, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics of poisoning cases who were treated in the PICU.

Material and Method: Cases with a diagnosis code of poisoning followed in the BID between January 2020 and April 2022 were examined retrospectively using electronic medical records.

Results: 133 patients were included in the study. This constituted 6.2% of the number of patients in the PICU. The median age of the patients is 14.21±6.14 [Interquartile range (IQR) 0-17 years]. The majority of patients (62.4%) were between the ages of 12-18. 82 (61.7%) patients were female. The median PRISM III score and GCS were 2.86±1.46 (IQR: 0.8-42) and 15±1.51 (IQR: 6-15- mean 14.21), respectively. The most common cause was suicide (52.6%), oral-drug-intake was the most common (91.7%) type, and 57 (42.9%) patients had multiple substance intakes. 47 (35.3%) patients received central nervous system (CNS) drugs, 14 (10.5%) cardiological medications, and 30 (22.5%) patients received anti-inflammatory/antipyretic medications. 24 (18%) patients took non-drug-related substances. The most common symptoms were altered mental status (27.8%) and vomiting (21.8%). Gastric lavage was performed in 115 (85.7%), and an antidote was administered in 31 (21.3%) patients. The length of stay in the PICU and in hospital were 2±1.35 (IQR: 1-12), and 2±1.62 (range 1-14) days, respectively. 2 patients (1.5%) died in the study.

Conclusion: In our study, unlike other studies in the literature, the majority of our patients were in the adolescent age group. Despite the different age groups and etiologies, the PICU stay and mortality rate were found to be similar to the literature.