Intensive care costs of acute poisoning cases

Abstract

Aim. To examine the costs of acute poisoning patients admitted to an intensive care unit. Methods. Retrospective review of intensive care unit records of patients admitted for treatment of acute poisoning from January 1, 2002 to September 30, 2006. Results. The study group consisted of 94 patients and 18.1% of them died in the intensive care unit. The 62 suicidal cases were significantly younger than the accidental cases (p = 0.006). The average cost per intensive care unit stay was US $821 ± 1149 (US $711 ± 695 for suicidal and US $1,036 ± 1,713 for accidental cases). Conclusions. Poisoned patients admitted to an intensive care unit represent a considerable cost for the health care system in Turkey.

Keywords: :

• Suicidal
• Poisoning
• Organophosphates
• Cost
• Intensive care unit