Methanol poisoning in the emergency department: a retrospective study

Aim: Massive methanol poisonings have occurred in the past decades, resulting in a large number of deaths. In this study, our aim is to retrospectively analyze methanol poisoning cases admitted to the emergency department between 2019-2021, to evaluate their demographic characteristics, causes of poisoning, clinical and laboratory findings, treatments applied and mortality, and to contribute to the poisoning data of our country. Material and Method: The cases of methanol poisoning who applied to the emergency department in a 3-year period were analyzed retrospectively. Medical files of patients aged 18 years and older were reviewed. Patients diagnosed with 'methanol poisoning' as a result of the examination were included in the study. Results: A total of 59 patients were included in the study. 88% (n=52) of the patients with a mean age of 53±10 were male. The presence of neurological symptoms and GCS were associated with mortality among the symptoms of patients presenting to the emergency department (p=0.017, p

COVID-19 triajında CLUE protokolünün etkinliği

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the CLUE protocol in COVID-19 triage. Materials and Methods: Patients who presented to the emergency department due to dyspnea with oxygen saturation below 95 % and were diagnosed with COVID-19 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests were included in this prospective, observational study. Patients included in the study underwent lung ultrasound (LUS) in the light of the CLUE protocol, and were accordingly given LUS scores of between 0 and 36, also within the scope of the protocol. Patients were placed under observation, and clinical outcomes of discharge from the emergency department, admission to the ward, and admission to intensive care or discharge were recorded. ROC analysis was applied in the calculation of threshold values for LUS scores predicting discharge, admission to intensive care, and mortality. Results: Forty-five patients with a mean age of 63 ± 18 years were included in the study. Fifteen patients (33 %) were treated on an outpatient basis and discharged, while 12 (27 %) were admitted to the ward and 18 (40 %) to the intensive care unit. Mortality occurred in 15 (33 %) patients. An LUS score lower than 3 was 97 % sensitive and 80 % specific for discharge, a score greater than 10 was 94 % sensitive and 78 % specific for admission to the intensive care unit, and a score higher than 11 was 93 % sensitive and 87 % specific for mortality. Based on regression analysis, an LUS score higher than 10 emerged as an independent risk factor for intensive care requirement, a score lower than 3 for discharge, and a score over 11 for mortality. Conclusion: The CLUE protocol may be a useful bedside test in COVID-19 triage, and one that does not involve radiation or require laboratory tests.