Table 1.
Patient characteristics and outcomes
| Patient 1: 54F | Patient 2: 59M | Patient 3: 49F | Patient 4: 50M | Patient 5: 35M | Patient 6: 33M | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acute exposure | Hydromorphone | BZD, cocaine, opiates | Heroin | Cocaine, fentanyl | Amphetamines, etOH | Cocaine, BZD, etOH |
| Clinical presentation | Unresponsive, apneic | Unresponsive, hypoxic, extensor posturing | Found unresponsive, cyanotic | Found unresponsive; last well 2 days prior | Encephalopathy, decreased activity | Found unresponsive |
| Initial GCS | 3 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 3 |
| Hospital interventions | MV, HTS, EVD, SubOcc | MV, HTS, EVD, SubOcc | MV, HTS, EVD, SubOcc | MV, HTS, EVD; had preexisting SubOcc | HTS | MV, HTS |
| Disposition | Trach/PEG, acute rehabilitation | In-hospital death | PEG, shelter home | SNF | Acute rehabilitation | Home with supervision |
| Follow-up | 2 months: moderate cognitive impairment; mild–moderate weakness, wheelchair-bound | n/a | 1 month: mild dysarthria only | 6 months: cognitive and memory deficits; living at nursing home | 3 months: abulia, memory and cognitive issues, mild hemiparesis; living with family | 2 years: end-stage renal disease; living alone with home health |
BZD benzodiazepines, etOH ethanol, EVD extraventricular drain, F female, GCS Glasgow Coma Scale, HTS hypertonic saline, M male, MV mechanical ventilation, PEG percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, SNF skilled nursing facility, SubOcc suboccipital decompression, Trach tracheostomy