Citation

Heyman EN, LoCastro DE, Gouse LH, Morris DL, Lombardo BA, Montenegro HD, Takacs M. Heart Lung 1996; 25(3): 246-252.

Affiliation

Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8635925

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the characteristics of patients admitted to the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) after intentional drug overdose. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review, descriptive. SETTING: Midwestern teaching hospital. SUBJECTS: Convenience sample of 43 patients admitted to the MICU after intentional drug overdose. OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival and disposition of those patients who survived and were discharged from the MICU. RESULTS: Ninety-five percent of the patients survived and were discharged from the MICU; Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores ranged from 1 to 29 (mean, 8); Glascow Coma Scale scores ranged from 3 to 15 (mean 12.5); five patients were intubated and two patients had serious electrocardiograph changes requiring pharmacologic intervention for dysrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS: Neurologic findings were the best indicators of serious complications after drug overdose. THerefore, patients with a Glascow Coma Scale score of more than six, and who are not intubated, may not need admission to an intensive care unit.

Language: en