[Selected data of acute intoxications with glycol and methanol in Poland in the year 2009].

BACKGROUND

There are no reliable studies in Poland evaluating the scale of acute intoxications with different types of xenobiotics.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to evaluate selected problems referring to the patients intoxicated with glycol and methanol, who were given the medical treatment in all Toxicological (TUs) and Intensive Care Units (ICUs), having contract with Polish National Fund of Health, in the year 2009.

METHODS

All cases of acute intoxications treated in Polish hospitals in 2009 and reported to the Polish National Fund of Health were included to the analysis. To further analysis were chosen only those patients, whose main diagnosis or comorbidities were coded as T51.1 or T52.3 according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision and, according to the state of health, patients were treated in TUs and ICUs. All the cases, in which intoxication was not the main health problem were excluded.

RESULTS

There were 85 398 acute intoxications in Poland in 2009, 470 of them referred to glycol and methanol poisonings. 192 patients were treated in TUs and ICUs. The most common methods of therapy in those units were extracorporeal toxin removal (60.2% in TUs and 62.5% in ICUs) and conservative treatment (39.8% in TUs and 37.5% in ICUs). The mortality rate in glycol and methanol poisonings in TUs and ICUs were 24.2%, and 56.3% respectively. In the conservatively treated group the mortality rates in TUs and ICUs were 23.5%, and 66.7% respectively, while in extracorporeal toxin removal group the mortality rates in TUs and ICUs were 24.7%, and 50% respectively. The authors also observed two regions (Maków Mazowiecki and Słubice), in which the amount of glycol and methanol intoxications was much higher than in the rest part of the country.

CONCLUSIONS

1. All the cases of acute intoxications of glycol and methanol should be consulted with Polish Poison Control Centers. 2. It is necessary to establish diagnostic and treatment protocols for intoxicated patients in Poland. 3. There is a strong need for popularization of the modern methods of glycol and methanol poisonings therapy and increasing the availability of modern antidotes. 4. It is necessary to monitor diagnostics, treatment and mortality rate of glycol and methanol intoxicated patients in all types of hospital units in Poland. 5. There is a need of further toxicological education of medical students and doctors as well. 6. The cases of abnormally high rate of glycol and methanol intoxications in some hospitals should be investigated.