Hospital lethality in acute poisonings in the toxicology clinic of emergency medicine Institute 'Pirogov' for the period 2001-2005.

Acute poisoning is a sudden and potentially life threatening damage of human health, characterised by quick dynamics and high lethality. The death rate and the lethality from acute poisonings vary between countries and depend on the complex action of various medico-social factors. We have studied the hospital lethality from acute exogenous intoxications in the Toxicology Clinic of Emergency Medicine Institute "Pir ogov", Sofia, Bulgaria for 5 years period--2001-2005.

Age and criminal poisonings.

We present a series of 8 cases of acute combined poisonings, occurred in an identical way in patients over 70 years of age for a period of 6 months. The way of exposure, characteristic of the clinical presentation, complications and the outcome of the intoxications, as well as the therapeutic approach is described. In all of the cases combined drug intoxication with benzodiazepines and opiates have been proved.