Morteza Rahbar Taromsari, Bijan Shad, Doshan Aghajani Nargesi, Niloofar Akhoundzadeh, Morteza Fallah Karkan ,
Volume 5, Issue 12 (9-2011)
Abstract
Background: The poisoning is mostly due to suicide and is observed in younger age groups. The systemic manifestations of ALP poisoning are common but pernicious manifestations of them are cardiotoxicity, shock, and ARDS. The clinical hallmark of cardiotoxicity is arrhythmia. The aim of this study was to investigate cardiac arrhythmias in patients poisoned with ALP who were admitted to Razi Hospital to reduce mortality rate.
Methods: This survey was performed as a cross sectional descriptive study. Overall, 102 patients were admitted to the hospital. Their gender, age, first blood pressure (BP), and the number of consumed tablet were registered. A cardiologist studied the patients’ ECGs and recorded various arrhythmias. Then, data were analyzed using SPSS version 11.
Results: In this study the mean age was 29.75±14.34 years and 66.7% of the patients were male. Used tablet and first BP average were 1.74±1.25 and 69.51±27.31 mmHg, respectively. Arrhythmia was recorded in 75.5% of the patients, among which arterial fibrillation (AF) was the most prevalant with the rate of 40.3%. PVC, Junc and PAC were the most common arrhythmias, respectively. Another arrhythmia was categorized in one group. All kinds of arrhythmia were common in younger males who had used more than one tablet and had first BP less than 90 mmHg. All patients with arrhythmia died.
Conclusion: Cardiotoxicity is an important cause of death in all studies and in this study as well. All patients with arrhythmia, demonstrated through ECG, died. Therefore, this study can be the basis for more detailed studies.
Behnam Behnoush, Fakhredin Taghadosinejad, Babak Salahshour, Vahid Yousefinejad,
Volume 7, Issue 23 (1-2014)
Abstract
Background: To date, studies on methadone overdose in adults have not been reported in Iran. Hence, this study was performed to determine the frequency of methadone overdose and its associated complications in Baharloo Hospital of Tehran between August 2011 and August 2012.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 390 cases. All patients with methadone overdoses and positive urine screen test for methadone were included in this case study through census method. Demographic data and overdose complications, such as loss of consciousness, respiratory complications, arrhythmia, hemodynamic disturbances, and QTC interval, were recorded in the questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software and Kolmogorov Smirnov, t-test, and Chi-square tests were used for data analysis.
Results: Overall, 84.1% of the samples were male and the mean age of the samples was 35.53±11.25 years (range: 15-84 years). Mean of the methadone dose used in current admissions was 96.13±52.34 mg. Concomitant drug abuse and concomitant uses of medications were seen in 25.9% and 36.9% of the patients, respectively. Respiratory depression, pulmonary edema, pneumonia, aspiration, and arrhythmia were seen in 87.9%, 26.2%, 3.3%, 7.4%, and 15.4% of the patients, respectively.
There were significant differences between concomitant medications, duration of methadone use, and QTc interval prolongation and arrhythmia (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, initial screening of ECG changes and QT interval prolongation as well as arrhythmias should be considered in patients on methadone therapy and concurrent drug abuse and co-administration of medications that lead to QT prolongation should be avoided in them.
