[Epidemiological analysis of drug self-poisonings treated by a mobile intensive care unit].
OBJECTIVE
Study the epidemiology, prehospital emergency care and short-term evolution of the drug self poisonings.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis from January 1999 to December 2000 of drug self poisonings requiring Grenoble (France) intensive care unit action and patient follow up.


RESULTS
325 patients, 39.3 years old +/- 14.5 have been treated. The drug self poisonings are representing 4.6% of Grenoble mobile intensive care unit activity. The sex-ratio was, for the 15 to 24 years old population, 2.3 females for 1 male. Mobile intensive care unit has been decided in first intention on 56.3%. 556 toxic substances have been reported, psychotropics are prevailing (79.4% of all drug self poisonings). Intubation has been necessary in 24%. 64.4% of the treated population has been hospitalized into intensive care units. The main exit step of the first admission unit was returning home. Death rate was 0.9%.


CONCLUSIONS
Drug self poisoning is an important part of mobile intensive care unit activity. The very low death rate could be related to several criteria: a high efficient rescue unit setting up a symptomatic based medical treatment and the current decreased toxicity of the ingested drugs.
Labourel
H
H
Service d'Aide Médicale d'Urgence, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Grenoble.
Ladwig
M
M
Maurin
C
C
Saviuc
Ph
P
Danel
V
V
Loizzo
F
F
Menthonnex
E
E