A M McLaughlin1, J Hardt, A P McKay, G J Fitzpatrick, M B Donnelly. 1. Department of Intensive Care, Adelaide & Meath Hospital incorporating The National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland. annemmclaughlin@gmail.com
Abstract
AIM: To assess the contribution of alcohol, drug abuse and suicide attempts to out of hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) who are admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: Retrospective review of all OHCA admitted to the ICU over a 2-year period. RESULTS: There were 26 OHCA. Six patients survived, all of whom had a cardiac aetiology for their arrest. Ten patients arrested due to external factors (drug misuse n = 4, alcohol excess n = 1, suicide attempts n = 4 and accidental choking n = 1). All of the patients who arrested secondary to external factors were young (37.2 +/- 13.58 years), 90% were male and all died in hospital. All of the cases of drug misuse involved cocaine. CONCLUSION: Alcohol, drug misuse and suicide attempts contribute significantly to the number of OHCA which are admitted to ICU. Moreover, cocaine usage has contributed to a number of OHCA in our study.
AIM: To assess the contribution of alcohol, drug abuse and suicide attempts to out of hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) who are admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: Retrospective review of all OHCA admitted to the ICU over a 2-year period. RESULTS: There were 26 OHCA. Six patients survived, all of whom had a cardiac aetiology for their arrest. Ten patients arrested due to external factors (drug misuse n = 4, alcohol excess n = 1, suicide attempts n = 4 and accidental choking n = 1). All of the patients who arrested secondary to external factors were young (37.2 +/- 13.58 years), 90% were male and all died in hospital. All of the cases of drug misuse involved cocaine. CONCLUSION:Alcohol, drug misuse and suicide attempts contribute significantly to the number of OHCA which are admitted to ICU. Moreover, cocaine usage has contributed to a number of OHCA in our study.
Authors: R O Cummins; D A Chamberlain; N S Abramson; M Allen; P J Baskett; L Becker; L Bossaert; H H Delooz; W F Dick; M S Eisenberg Journal: Circulation Date: 1991-08 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Kenzie L Preston; David H Epstein; Edward J Cone; Abraham T Wtsadik; Marilyn A Huestis; Eric T Moolchan Journal: J Anal Toxicol Date: 2002-10 Impact factor: 3.367