Öz
Objective: Methanol poisoning has become a frequently encountered type of poisoning in our country recently. In case of poisoning, mortality and morbidity rates can be reduced by rapidly recognizing and treating the cases. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between survival and the demographic characteristics, physical examination findings and laboratory results of methanol poisoning patients admitted to the emergency department.
Material and Methods: Patients were divided into 2 different groups as exitus after methanol poisoning and survivors after methanol poisoning. Demographic characteristics, presentation complaints, physical examination findings and laboratory results and clinical outcomes of all patients were recorded. Chi-square, Student t-test and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare the groups. A value of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: A total of 17 patients, including exitus after methanol poisoning (n=5) and survivors (n=12), were included in the study. The most common complaint after methanol poisoning was visual impairment (70.6%), followed by shortness of breath (35.3%) and nausea-vomiting (35.3%). There was no difference between the groups in terms of admission complaints. The mean value of vital signs, especially respiratory rate (hyperventilation), was above the normal value in both groups. However, there was no difference between the groups in terms of vital signs. While creatinine level and base deficit level in the deceased patient group were significantly increased compared to those in the survivor group, bicarbonate and pH levels were found to be significantly decreased (p=0.015; 0.002, 0.020; 0.002, respectively).
Conclusion: In patients who died after methanol poisoning, increase in creatinine value and base deficiency, deepening acidosis and decreased bicarbonate level are consistent with poor clinical outcome. In cases of hyperventilation and loss of consciousness accompanying visual impairment, methanol poisoning should be considered and appropriate treatment procedures should be initiated as soon as possible.