Intensive care utilisation following attempted suicide through self-poisoning.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate intensive care utilisation following attempted suicide through self-poisoning.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of clinical records.


METHODS
Intensive Care Unit, Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya.


METHODS
All patients admitted over the period 1991-1995.


RESULTS
292 patients were admitted after a suicide attempt by ingestion of a poisonous substance or drug in overdose. 52% were mechanically ventilated. The mean stay was 6 days. Daily intensive care cost averaged Rs. 8000 for a ventilated patient. Fifty three patients died. The 292 patients constituted 10.2% of the total admissions to the unit.


CONCLUSIONS
Suicide as a medical emergency imposes pressure on the limited resources and facilities available in intensive care units. Concrete preventive measures are mandatory to prevent loss of life and health care resources.
Gunawardana
R H
RH
Department of Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Abeywarna
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011041:Poisoning; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted