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Biomedical subjects

M L Efthymiou

Publications and source records attributed to M L Efthymiou.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

[Acute accidental poisoning with hospital disinfectant. 45 cases of which 13 with fatal outcome].

Airsane HP 800 is a disinfectant widely used in hospitals as a powder to be diluted in water. It mainly contains a mixture of quaternary ammonium compounds. Forty five cases of acute accidental poisoning with this product have been reported to the Paris Poison Centre. All the victims were mentally disturbed patients: 2 were young adults hospitalized in psychiatric units and the other 43 were old people hospitalized for senile dementia. All ingested the solid preparation which was left in their room by hospital workers who did not know it was dangerous. Corrosive burns of the mouth, pharynx, oesophagus and sometimes of the respiratory tract were produced in most patients. Thirteen of them died. All were old persons. Ten had inhalation pneumonitis and died of acute respiratory distress one hour to twelve days after taking the powder. Progressive deterioration was responsible for the death of the other three between the 19th and 40th days. These severe accidental poisonings could easily be prevented by a better information of hospital workers, and by storing the disinfectant and preparing the solution beyond the reach of patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Prolonged hypocoagulability following the ingestion of anticoagulant raticides].

Voluntary ingestion of concentrated anticoagulant rodenticides leads to prolonged hypocoagulability sometimes accompanied by haemorrhage. The authors report 11 cases referred to the Paris Anti-Poisons Centre. The products implicated were chlorophacinone, bromadiolone, and warfarin. The time interval before medical intervention ranged from 90 minutes to 3 weeks. The absence of early clinical signs probably explains the number of late admissions. Haemorrhage of variable severity was observed in 8 cases. The prothrombin time varied with the administered dose of Vitamin K and/or coagulation factors. Three patients were lost to follow-up at days 9, 24 and 68. The other patients were treated for several weeks (27 to 82 days). Massive overdose with these rodenticides justifies stomach washout when the patients are seen early, daily check-ups of coagulability and treatment with Vitamin K at a dosage adapted to the biochemical abnormalities. Severe haemorrhage requires transfusion and the administration of factors of coagulation. The duration of the abnormalities is unpredictable; the prothrombin time should therefore be checked 48 hours after stopping Vitamin K therapy to detect any recurrence.

4-Hydroxycoumarins↗
PubMed1978

[Acute poisoning by Gyromitra esculenta (author's transl)].

This kind of poisoning is scarce in France, on the contrary it is most frequent in Eastern Europe. Clinical picture associating cytolytic hepatitis, seizures, and hemolysis reminds us intoxication by hydrazine. In fact there is some evidence that the toxin of this mushroom--called gyromitrin--is transformed in the stomach in methylhydrazine. The mechanism of hepatotoxicity of the later can be compared with that of the metabolites of isoniazid.

Chemical Phenomena↗