TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1996//
TI  - Intentional drug overdose: predictors of clinical course in the intensive care unit
JO  - Heart and lung
A1  - Heyman, E. N.
A1  - LoCastro, D. E.
A1  - Gouse, L. H.
A1  - Morris, D. L.
A1  - Lombardo, B. A.
A1  - Montenegro, H. D.
A1  - Takacs, M.
SP  - 246
EP  - 252
VL  - 25
IS  - 3
N2  - 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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0147-9563
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -