Symptoms and signs in interpreting Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) intoxication - an explorative study

Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine

Ingela Skärsäter²  Henrik Stomberg³  Kai Knudsen¹  Margareta Warrén Stomberg⁴ 

[1] Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden;School of Health and Social Sciences, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden;Police Department in Örebro County, Örebro, Sweden;University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Health and Care Sciences, PO Box 457, SE 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden

关键词: Sign;    Symptom;    Intoxication;    GHB;    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate;   

Others  :  803706
DOI  :  10.1186/1757-7241-22-27

 received in 2012-11-21, accepted in 2014-04-07,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Acute poisoning with gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has been a serious medical and social problem in different parts of the world including Sweden. GHB is a drug of abuse which acts primarily as central nervous system (CNS) depressants. GHB has serious toxicity, although many young users do not recognise GHB as a dangerous drug. The aim of this pilot study was to explore how symptoms with risk of failure in vital functions would be valued among professionals that encounter GHB intoxication in the emergency phase.

Methods

A web-based survey focusing on the assessment of vital clinical signs for possible GHB intoxication using a numeric scale was carried out during April and May 2011. The participants, n 105, are all professionals who encounter GHB intoxicated in the emergency phase, but have different levels of training in GHB intoxication, mainly Registered Nurses (RNs) in southwest Sweden, employed in pre-hospital or emergency departments at somatic and most psychiatric health care facilities, as well as police officers who in their work come into contact with drug users. Responses in the survey were scored according to risk of GHB intoxication with serious failure of vital functions. The score value was then referred to a so-called evidence based priority (EBP) scale and analysed using descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test.

Results

Cardiac arrest, coma, hypoxia, general convulsions, slow respiratory and heart rate and pale skin are symptoms with the highest risk of serious failure in vital physical functions and were predominantly recognised as such.

Conclusion

Despite the professionals' different levels of training in GHB intoxication, all of them were relatively well aware of and in accordance regarding the most risky symptoms. The interpretation score for the less risky symptoms and signs of GHB intoxication varied depending on their degree of training. The results should be viewed cautiously, as the size of the professional groups and their general knowledge of critical symptoms of GHB poisoning varied.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Stomberg et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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