A Triage for Disposition of Poisoned Patients with Cardiovascular Therapeutic Agents Presented to Poison Control Center of Ain Shams University Hospitals

Background: According to the 2016 annual report of the Poison Control Center of Ain Shams University Hospitals (PCC-ASUH), toxicity of cardiovascular drugs represented 7.8% of all intoxicated cases. There is a great variability in the disposition of the poisoned patients with cardiovascular therapeutic agents between poison control centers depending on triage guidelines, compliance to these guidelines and the current practice. Objective: To compare the triage for disposition of intoxicated patients with cardiovascular therapeutic agents in PCC-ASUH with the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). Methods: This study was a comparative cross-sectional study. Patients were divided into; retrospective group in which disposition was based on PSS and local PCC protocols, and a prospective observational group using the AAPCC guidelines. Results: Eight hundreds and six patients were included. Retrospectively, (37.2%) of the studied patients were observed in ER then discharged, (36.7%) were admitted to ICU, (8.37%) were admitted to inpatient unit, and (17.73%) were referred to another toxicology center. Prospectively, most of poisoned cases (57.39%) observed in ER then discharged, (11.78%) of patients were admitted to ICU, (27.82%) were admitted to inpatient unit, and (3.01%) were referred to another toxicology center, with no apparent adverse effects during follow up. Conclusion: Application of the AAPCC triage method can reduce the unnecessary admissions of poisoned patients with cardiovascular therapeutic agents through increasing the percent of observed patients in ER and reducing ICU admissions and the need for referral to other health care facility.
Received in original form: 25 September 2021 Accepted in a final form: 30 November 2021