[The lethal ingestion of cigarettes in adults: does it really exist?].
METHODS
A 35-year old patient suffering from a borderline personality disorder was admitted to our clinic with ingestions of cigarettes seven times within 15 months. The patient showed symptoms of a nicotine intoxication with agitation, hypertension, tachycardia, dizziness and nausea after ingestion of 7 up to 20 cigarettes.


METHODS
Mild nicotine intoxication.


METHODS
After therapy with gastric lavages, activated charcoals and saline cathartics forced acid diuresis were performed in all seven cases of intoxication. All courses were without complications and unit every time the patient could be transferred to the psychiatry within 24 hours after the hospitalization in our clinic.


CONCLUSIONS
An ingestion of more than 6 cigarettes is considered a life-threatening intoxication for adult persons. In spite of the ingestion of 7 up to 20 cigarettes our patient never showed any symptoms of a severe or life-threatening nicotine intoxication. In the last decades no lethal nicotine intoxication after ingestion of cigarettes in adults was published in the literature.
Metzler
W
W
Gesellschaft für Wissens- und Technologietransfer der TU Dresden, Zentrum für Klinische Studien. wmetzler@gmx.de
Wronski
R
R
Bewig
B
B
D000328:Adult; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy
D009538:Nicotine