engleski

Some aspects of acute poisoning in the elderly

In the elderly in comparison with other age groups, the risk of poisoning is greater because of using many drugs, of accidents and of suicidal attempts. By some data, 11.4% of the elderly is poisoned accidentally and 2.8% in suicidal attempts. During 5 years in the Dept. of Internal Med., Rebro, Zagreb, we treated 0.2% of poisonned patients aged 65 or more and 0.6% younger than 65. In out Intensive Care Unit, 2.41% of all patients were treated because of poisoning, 76.6% of them younger than 65 and 23.7% 65 and older. In following we are presenting 4 cases of acute poisoning in the elderly, all of them admitted in comatouse states of 4^th degree, treated successfully. 1) FB, m, 68 was poisonned by 4mg of medigoxin and 400ij of Lente insulin ; 2) GJ, m, 80, have been taking 500mg of morphine orraly from an ampoule 40 years old ; 3) FK, m, 80, ingested 1dl of 2, 4-D, and with serum 2, 4-D level of 177mg/100ml ; 4) DK, m, 68, have been taking 1.5L of cognac, and have had serum ethanol level of 7.2g/L, and 0.8g/L at the end of the procedure. In conclusion: there is no age limit for using any of the therapeutic procedures in the treatment of acute poisonings.

elderly; acute poisoning

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