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Metas de Enfermería

Metas de Enfermería

NOVIEMBRE 2006 N° 9 Volumen 9

Features of acute and severe arsenic intoxication

Section: Hands on

How to quote

García-Velasco Sánchez-Morago S. Características de las intoxicaciones agudas graves por ingesta de arsénico. Metas de Enferm nov 2006; 9(9): 16-21

Authors

Santiago García-Velasco Sánchez-Morago

Position

Diplomado en Enfermería. Servicio de Medicina Intensiva. Hospital General de Ciudad Real.

Contact address

C/ Capellán Marcelo Colino nº 5, casa 10. 13002 Ciudad Real.

Contact email: santgarc@telefonica.net

Abstract

Intoxications are a condition frequently treated at the Emergency department. In cases where these intoxications become more severe or require advanced medical treatment, the patient is transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).There are multiple reasons that lead the user to require the delivery of healthcare services; pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, nervous symptoms, etc. which will vary depending on the specific characteristics of the toxic substance. Likewise, the cause for the intoxication can be of different nature: work-related accident, accidental oversights, suicidal attempts or homicide attempts, etc.
Acute arsenic intoxications (caused by arsenic, a compound used in rural areas as a potent plague insecticide) compromise the life of the patients because arsenic inhibits enzymatic activity and leads to shock and hepatic and renal failure, mainly. Despite the low incidence of these intoxications, the prognosis of intoxicated patients is poor.
The objective of this paper is to share our experience in the nursing care of patients diagnosed with acute arsenic admitted into the ICU and to contribute to the furthering of knowledge in the clinical management of these patients.

Keywords:

arsenic; intoxication; antidote; critical care; plague insecticideslabour nursing

Versión en Español

Título:

Características de las intoxicaciones agudas graves por ingesta de arsénico