TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1997//
TI  - Intensive care utilisation following attempted suicide through self-poisoning
JO  - Ceylon medical journal
A1  - Gunawardana, R. H.
A1  - Abeywarna, C.
SP  - 18
EP  - 20
VL  - 42
IS  - 1
N2  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate intensive care utilisation following attempted suicide through self-poisoning. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of clinical records. SETTING: Intensive Care Unit, Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya. PATIENTS: All patients admitted over the period 1991-1995. RESULTS: 292 patients were admitted after a suicide attempt by ingestion of a poisonous substance or drug in overdose. 52% were mechanically ventilated. The mean stay was 6 days. Daily intensive care cost averaged Rs. 8000 for a ventilated patient. Fifty three patients died. The 292 patients constituted 10.2% of the total admissions to the unit. CONCLUSIONS: Suicide as a medical emergency imposes pressure on the limited resources and facilities available in intensive care units. Concrete preventive measures are mandatory to prevent loss of life and health care resources.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0009-0875
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -