Methanol poisoning in the emergency department: a retrospective study

Abstract

Aim: Massive methanol poisonings have occurred in the past decades, resulting in a large number of deaths. In this study, our aim is to retrospectively analyze methanol poisoning cases admitted to the emergency department between 2019-2021, to evaluate their demographic characteristics, causes of poisoning, clinical and laboratory findings, treatments applied and mortality, and to contribute to the poisoning data of our country. Material and Method: The cases of methanol poisoning who applied to the emergency department in a 3-year period were analyzed retrospectively. Medical files of patients aged 18 years and older were reviewed. Patients diagnosed with 'methanol poisoning' as a result of the examination were included in the study. Results: A total of 59 patients were included in the study. 88% (n=52) of the patients with a mean age of 53±10 were male. The presence of neurological symptoms and GCS were associated with mortality among the symptoms of patients presenting to the emergency department (p=0.017, p<0.001, respectively), it was seen that low pH and NaHCO3, and high lactate, serum sodium and anion gap were associated with mortality (p<0.001, p=0.003, p<0.001, p=0.022, respectively, p=0.001) Conclusion: Methanol poisoning is a disease with high mortality despite the improved treatment possibilities. Lactate level was found to be an independent factor for mortality, and increased lactate levels are associated with poor clinical outcome. There was no difference in mortality between patients treated with ethanol and fomepizole.

Keywords

• methanol intoxication
• mortality
• emergency department

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