Trends in gastrointestinal decontamination for deliberate self poisoning in Christchurch.
OBJECTIVE
To examine changes in the choice of gastrointestinal decontamination for deliberate self poisoning in Christchurch.


METHODS
A review of adult deliberate self poisoning cases for 9 months from July 1 1995 to March 31 1996 and a comparison with previously published figures from 1989 and 1992.


RESULTS
Only 5% of patients received gastric lavage (compared with 26% in 1992 and 78% in 1989) and 52% received activated charcoal (compared with 46% in 1992 and 0.4% in 1989). No patients received syrup of ipecacuanha (compared with 1% in 1992 and 25% in 1989) and 43% had no gastrointestinal decontamination at all.


CONCLUSIONS
The trend towards the use of activated charcoal and away from gastric lavage is consistent with sentiments expressed in the literature.
Ardagh
M
M
Christchurch School of Medicine.
Balasingam
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000931:Antidotes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002606:Charcoal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods; D005751:Gastric Lavage; D006801:Humans; D011041:Poisoning / Q000628:therapy*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
D000931:Antidotes; D002606:Charcoal