The management of acute poisoning.

Self poisoning is among the most common causes of non-traumatic coma in patients younger than 35 yr, and accounts for approximately 10% of all acute medical admissions [8]. Anaesthetists may become involved in the care of these patients during emergency resuscitation or in the intensive care unit. In the U.S.A., acute self poisoning accounts for 5-30 % of admissions to medical intensive care units [21,23].