- Trends of Intentional Poisoning: A Retrospective Single Center Study During 15 Years
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Sung Kyu Kong, Sang Hoon Oh, Kyu Nam Park, Han Joon Kim
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J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2016;14(1):47-53. Published online June 30, 2016
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Abstract
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- Purpose: Intentional poisoning is a major public health issue in many parts of the world. This study was conducted to provide details regarding the epidemiology of intentional poisoning in a metropolitan emergency department and to identify the changing patterns and epidemiology of poisoning. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate intentional poisoning of patients who visited the emergency department in a tertiary teaching hospital between 2001 and 2015. All intentional poisoning-related emergency department visits over three five year periods (2001-2005 (P1), 2006-2010 (P2) and 2011-2015 (P3)) were reviewed to investigate trends in intentional poisoning patients. Information regarding patient sex, age, time from episode to admission, psychiatric history, type of intoxicants, alcohol co-ingestion, gastric lavage, charcoal administration, any previous suicide attempts, need for hospitalization and death before discharge was reviewed. Results: A total of 1269 patients were enrolled in this study. The number of patients admitted during each period was P1=515, P2=439 and P3=315. Comparison of the three groups revealed significant differences according to age (p<0.001), psychiatric history (p<0.001), alcohol co-ingestion (p=0.013), gastric lavage (p<0.001), charcoal administration (p<0.001), need for hospitalization (p=0.044), repeated attempt (p<0.001) and type of intoxicants (p<0.001). Conclusion: The average age of intentional poisoning patients has increased. While the use of sedatives and multiple drugs increased, the use of pesticides and the antihistamine decreased.
- Trends Analysis of Suicidal Poisoning in Korea- Comparison before and after the IMF Crisis and the Economic Recession
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Won Jae Lee, Kyu Nam Park, Seung Pil Choi, Mi Jin Lee
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J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2005;3(1):33-39. Published online June 30, 2005
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- Purpose: Nowadays the Korean society is in the center of time of the social change. Because of dissociation of traditional family, IMF (International Monetary Fund) crisis and economic recession, the mortality rate of suicidal attempts are increasing annually. The majority of suicidal attempts were by poisoning considering the characteristics of korean society. Therefore we studied to find out the characteristics of suicidal poisoning before and after social economic stress, and to suggest the direction for the proper management. Methods: We reviewed medical records of 547 patients of suicide by poisoning who visited the emergency medical centers of St. Mary's hospitals from 1997 to 2004. For the annual trends analysis, we analyzed the demographic and toxicologic data of these patients compared with before and after IMF crisis (1998) and the economic recession ($2003~2004$). Results: At the time of IMF and the economic recession, the number of suicidal poisoning increased, especially in fifth decade. The refusal rate of toxicological emergency treatment increased. Also the mortality rate and the admission rate to ICU (Intensive Care Unit) increased during the same period. In the result of the comparison analysis, clinical severity and mortality of social problem group were higher. However they couldn't be treated appropriately because of financial problem and the family indifference. Conclusion: At the economic recession period, the severity of suicidal poisoned patients was high. But the refusal rate of toxicologic treatment also increased, so the patients had lost the chance for proper toxicologic treatment. Therefore they would be supported by medical institution and public health.
- Suicidal Poisoning Methods of Physicians and Medical Related Personnels
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Mi Jin Lee, Hae Kwan Park, Kyu Nam Park, Seung Pil Choi, Won Jae Lee, Se Kyung Kim
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J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2004;2(2):123-128. Published online December 31, 2004
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- Purpose: In recent review of physician suicides] the relative risk of physicians is higher than the general population. The majority of physician suicide were by poisoning. The purpose of this study was to analyse the medical personnels with suicide by poisoning compared with the general population. Methods: We reviewed medical records of 15 medical related personnels with suicide by poisoning who visited the emergency medical centers of St. Mary's and Kangnam St. Mary's hospitals from March 1998 to Aug 2004. For the comparison with general population in analysis] the collected data was acquired from medical records of 677 intoxicated patients in St. Mary's Hospital during the same period. Results: Fifteen suicides of physicians (n=7), nurses (n=4), medical students (n=2), pharmacist (n=1) and medical assistant technician (n=1) was evaluated with regard to the method of poisoning. Preferred methods were ingestion of medications orally ($54\%$) and by infusion/injection ($46\%$). The results were compared with the general population group (n=677: oral ingestion of medications $98\%$, inhalation $1.6\%$). Intoxications by infusion/injection predominated more clearly in physicians than in the total collective. Conclusion: Comparing with the general population, the tendency to a method of suicidal poisoning being typical of the profession rises among physicians and related occupations with the degree of specialization, caused by increasing knowledge, easier access to appropriate drugs and methods.
- A Case Report of Glacial Acetic Acid Ingestion Complicated with Hepatic Necrosis
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Yeon Young Kyong, Mi Jin Lee, Seung Pil Choi, Kyu Nam Park, Won Jae Lee, Se Kyung Kim
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J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2004;2(1):23-26. Published online June 30, 2004
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- Caustic ingestion can produce a progressive and fatal injuries to esophagus, stomach and other organs. Reported exposure to acetic acid results injuries to gastrointestinal tract, hemolysis and disseminated intravascular coagulation is general, but causing hepatic necrosis by direct injuries are rare. A 47-year-old man visited our emergency medical center complaining odynophagia and abdominal pain after ingesting glacial acetic acid ($99\%$) with suicidal ideation. At the time of arrival, the patient complained mild abdominal pain but a few hours later the patient complained severe abdominal pain with markedly elevated liver enzymes. The Abdominal Computerized Tomography showed diffuse gastric wall edema and density of wedge shaped hypodense area in right hepatic dome showing focal hepatic necrosis without significant inflammation. This seems likely to be a direct effect of the noxious agent on hepatocyte involving the portal circulation.
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