National Poison Data System (NPDS) review of intentional sodium nitrite ingestions 2009–2019

Figures & data

Figure 1. Flowsheet demonstrating how we obtained the final cohort of patients.

Figure 2. Number of cases and their outcomes per year.

Table 1. Demographics and case details.

Demographics and case details (N = 17)
Age, years (mean, range)	23.2 (15–39)
Female (N, %)	9 (53%)
Initial Heart Rate, bpm (mean, range)	104 (70–140)
Initial systolic blood pressure, mmHg (mean and range)	97.6 (70–144)
Initial oxygen saturation (mean and range)	85% (68–98%)
Cyanosis (N, %)	13 (76%)
Documented methemoglobin level (N, %)	10 (59%)
Methemoglobin level (range)^a	0.7 − 88.8
Methylene blue given (N, %)	14 (82%)
Methylene blue dose range (range and mode)	1 − 6 mg/kg (2 mg/kg)
Red blood cell transfusion (N, %)	2 (12%)
Intubation (N, %)	8 (47%)
Advanced cardiac life support (N, %)	8 (47%)
Other treatments (N, %)^b	4 (24%)
Died (N, %)	7 (41%)

^aAbove the upper limit of detection (2 patients).

^bNorepinephrine (2 patients), sodium bicarbonate i (2 patients), hydroxycobalamin (1 patient), and intravenous lipid emulsion (1 patient).