Objective: Methyl alcohol is a solvent obtained by the fermentation of wood and used in various fields industrially. Due to its cheap and easy accessibility, it is frequently used to manufacture moonshine and can lead to severe morbidity and mortality. This study aims to evaluate the clinical features of patients with methanol intoxication followed in the tertiary center's intensive care unit (ICU) and determine the factors affecting mortality.
Method: All patients aged 18 years and older who were followed up in the ICU for methanol intoxication between January 2016 and September 2022 were included in the study. Demographic characteristics, clinical data, and factors affecting mortality were evaluated retrospectively by classifying the patients as discharged and dead.
Results: A total of 32 patients, 11 (34.3%) in the discharged group and 21 (65.7%) in the dead group, were included in the study. The mean age of the whole population was 41.5±8.8 years, and all were male. Of the population, 37.5% had central nervous system findings, 34.3% had visual disturbances, and 15.6% had gastrointestinal system complaints. Renal replacement therapy was administered to 93.7% of the patients, ethyl alcohol or fomepizole to 40.6%, and folate to 28.1%. High anion gap metabolic acidosis (pH< 6.95, base excess< -25.2, anion gap> 23.2) and high lactate levels (lactate> 5.27) were associated with poor outcomes.
Conclusion: Although methanol intoxication is an important public health problem affecting especially young-middle-aged men, it is a significant cause of mortality. We think that developing effective policies can prevent methanol intoxication and related deaths.
Key words: Methanol, intoxications, acidosis, intensive care unit, mortality
|
