Treatment of acute self-poisoning in a respiratory intensive care unit. A 5-year review

A study of 103 cases of drug-related suicide attempts admitted to the Respiratory Intensive Care Unit, Groote Schuur Hospital, over a 5-year period (1980-1984) was carried out. This group constituted 4.8% of all patients admitted to this hospital with acute self-poisoning. The majority of patients made an uneventful recovery (survival rate 91.7%). No association was found between initial admission status and ultimate recovery. Haemoperfusion was useful in treating patients with severe barbiturate poisoning.