Hemodialysis in treatment of acute chloral hydrate poisoning.

A young pregnant (32 weeks' gestation) woman with severe chloral hydrate intoxication was treated with hemodialysis. This resulted in dramatic improvement of her profound central nervous system depression, protracted ventricular arrhythmias, fetal distress, and resumption of spontaneous respiration. The blood concentration of trichloroethanol was measured hourly during the dialysis and its dialysance was calculated. This experience suggests that hemodialysis may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of severe chloral hydrate poisoning.