Table 1.
Characteristics of admitted cases of acetaminophen poisoning
| N = 435 | |
|---|---|
| Mean Age in years (95% CI) | 29.1 (27.6, 30.6) |
| Females (%) | 319 (73.3) |
| Mean ED LOS in hours (95% CI) | 5.84 (5.4, 6.3) |
| Mean lab clearance to discharge in hours (95% CI)a | 35.0 (31.5, 38.5) |
| Mean hospital LOS in hours (95% CI) | 66.5 (62.1, 71.0) |
| Known TOI (%) | 338 (77.7) |
| Mean TOI to presentation in hours (95% CI) | 9.7 (8.0, 11.3) |
| Overdose type | |
| Accidental (%) | 68 (15.7) |
| Intentional (%) | 359 (82.7) |
| Unknown (%) | 7 (1.6) |
| Ingestion type | |
| Acute (%) | 363 (83.6) |
| Chronic (%) | 58 (13.4) |
| Unknown (%) | 13 (3.0) |
| Any Co-ingestants (%) | 220 (50.7) |
| PCC consultation call (%) | 295 (67.8) |
| Psychiatry consultation (%) | 372 (85.5) |
| Mean TOI to NAC in hours (95% CI) | 12.3 (10.6, 14.0) |
| IV NAC (%) | 103 (24.1) |
| AC Given in ED (%) | 161 (37.0) |
| Patients with liver enzyme elevation (%) | 145 (33.3) |
| Significant liver enzyme elevation (%)b | 63 (14.5) |
| Transfer for OLT/Received OLT (%) | 8/0 (1.8/0) |
| Deaths (%) | 4 (0.9) |
| Nomogram placementc | |
| Above “200” line (%) | 161 (55.7) |
| Between “150” and “200” lines (%) | 51 (17.6) |
| Below “150” line (%) | 77 (26.6) |
| Mean highest APAP level (95% CI) | 106.9 (99.2, 114.7) |
LOS length of stay, TOI time of ingestion, PCC poison control center, NAC N-acetylcysteine, AC activated charcoal, OLT orthotopic liver transplantation, APAP acetaminophen
aEarliest evidence of laboratory clearance time. Defined as time when available labs show undetectable serum APAP level and normal/decreasing liver enzymes (see “Methods” section)
bSignificant liver enzyme elevation is defined as AST and/or ALT >1,000 IU/L
cOf cases appropriate for Rumack–Matthews nomogram placement which was defined as acute overdoses with serum APAP level drawn between 4 and 24 h and without liver enzymes elevation