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Biomedical subjects

G Braitberg

Publications and source records attributed to G Braitberg.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Impact of a toxicology service on a metropolitan teaching hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a toxicology service on a major metropolitan teaching hospital. METHOD: A descriptive comparative study of all patients presenting with poisoning or suspected poisoning 12 months before and after the commencement of a toxicology service. Data on length of stay in the emergency department, disposition, length of stay of admitted patients and substance(s) involved were examined. RESULTS: A total of 1,316 poisoned patients were studied. There was a statistically significant increase in self-poisonings from 612 to 704 (P = 0.002) and in the number of admissions from 113 to 192 (P < 0.05). There was no significant change in emergency department length of stay. The average length of stay for patients admitted under the care of the toxicology service decreased, especially for complicated patients. CONCLUSION: In the first 12 months of operation the toxicology service treated more patients than the 12-month period prior to commencement, achieving a decrease in average length of stay for those patients admitted to the service. The emergency department length of stay was not altered. We surmise that by decreasing average length of stay for the patients under the care of the toxicology service, the net increase in the general pool of unoccupied beds improves bed access for all emergency department patients.

Emergency Service, Hospital↗
PubMed1998

Serotonin syndrome resulting from drug interactions.

We describe six patients diagnosed with serotonin syndrome after exposure to drugs with serotonergic activity. Drug interactions occurred as a result of a combination of tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors or monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Management included supportive care and the use of non-specific serotonin antagonists (cyproheptadine, benzodiazepines and chlorpromazine). All patients made uneventful recoveries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Seizure after isolated fluoxetine overdose.

Previous case reports of seizures following fluoxetine overdose have not adequately ruled out ingestion of other substances and have lacked documentation of increased serum drug levels. We present a case of seizure following fluoxetine overdose in a previously well patient with a clear history of sole ingestion. We ruled out the presence of other substances with comprehensive drug screening and documented increased serum levels of fluoxetine and its active metabolite.

Adolescent↗