Metaldehyde Poisoning

Spighel, Adolf; Alroy-Spighel, Michael

doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(58)90514-2

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Excluding a patient who developed metaldehyde toxicity through dermal exposure, a total of 21 patients were retrospectively analyzed, and their demographic profile, clinical features, and eventual outcomes are summarized in Table 1 . 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 The median age was 32 years (range, 3–68 years). There were slightly more male than female patients (12 male patients, 9 female patients).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One study was omitted due to the presence of multiple co‐ingestants at significant doses. Excluding a patient who developed metaldehyde toxicity through dermal exposure, a total of 21 patients were retrospectively analyzed, and their demographic profile, clinical features, and eventual outcomes are summarized in Table 1 2–9 . The median age was 32 years (range, 3–68 years).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Acute metaldehyde poisoning from ingestion: clinical features and implications for early treatment

Tan

Khoo²,

Tan

2022

Acute Medicine & Surgery

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Aims To describe and compare the clinical features of patients with acute metaldehyde toxicity from suicidal and accidental ingestion of metaldehyde, and to elucidate factors influencing early treatment and disposition. Methods We undertook a systematic review and retrospective analysis of the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with acute toxicity from ingesting metaldehyde. Results Twenty‐one cases identified between 1965 and 2021 were analyzed. The median age was 32 years (range, 3–68 years), and two‐thirds of patients experienced symptoms (14/21, 67%). In symptomatic patients, gastrointestinal symptoms were present in two‐thirds (9/14, 64%), and half experienced neurologic complications (8/14, 57%); of those with neurologic complications, half experienced seizures (8/14, 57%). There were near‐equal cases of accidental and suicidal poisoning. Those who attempted suicide were likelier to develop symptoms (90% versus 45%, P = 0.031), experience seizures (60% versus 18%, P = 0.049), require intensive care (50% versus 9%, P = 0.038), and suffer longer hospitalizations (13.3 days versus 2.9 days, P = 0.005), despite no statistically significant differences in the doses of metaldehyde consumed when compared against patients with accidental ingestion (9.04 g versus 2.03 g, P = 0.09). Conclusion The circumstances in which metaldehyde is consumed heavily influence clinical symptoms and outcomes. Early and close observation for seizures and adopting a lowered threshold for escalation to the intensive care unit are recommended in patients attempting suicide even when the dose ingested cannot be determined at that time, which is common during the early phases of treatment.

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