title: Emergency department presentation of cocaine intoxication.
abstract: All patients who presented to the emergency department as a result of cocaine intoxication during a one-year period were reviewed retrospectively. One hundred thirty-seven cases were reviewed. Patients presented with a wide variety of chief complaints including altered mental status (40%), chest pain (21%), syncope (19%), suicide attempt (13%), palpitations (12%), and seizures (12%), as well as numerous other complaints. There was only one death. Few patients required treatment within the ED; sixteen required hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento 95817.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Derlet
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Albertson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002140:California; D003042:Cocaine / Q000506:poisoning*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D003042:Cocaine