Table 1.
Demographic characteristics of ED patients intentionally using N2O.
| Characteristics Presenting symptoms |
Pure N2O Users n = 24 |
Concomitant Illicit Drug Users n = 16 |
p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gender (M) | 12 (50) | 10 (62.5) | 0.65 |
| Age | 25.5 (21.5–29) | 25 (22–28) | 0.86 |
| ED triage | <0.01 | ||
| 1 | 0 (0) | 2 (12.5) | |
| 2 | 4 (16.67) | 8 (50) | |
| 3 | 20 (83.33) | 6 (37.5) | |
| Vital signs | |||
| Respiration rate (/min) | 18 (18–19.5) | 19 (17–20) | 0.74 |
| Heart rate (/min) | 92.5 (85.5–105) | 111 (97.5–127) | 0.01 |
| SBP/DBP (mmHg) | 130 (114.5–139) | 130 (112–140) | 0.91 |
| Body temperature (°C) | 36.9 (36.5–37.1) | 37.05 (36.7–37.45) | 0.37 |
| SpO2 | 97 (96–99) | 97 (96–98) | 0.39 |
| GCS (median) | 15 (15–15) | 15 (13–15) | 0.11 |
| Reasons for being in ED | 0.43 | ||
| Abdomen pain | 2 (8.33) | 0 (0) | |
| Agitation | 3 (12.5) | 3 (18.75) | |
| Amnesia | 1 (4.17) | 0 (0) | |
| Chest pain | 1 (4.17) | 0 (0) | |
| Conscious change | 2 (8.33) | 4 (25) | |
| Dyspnea | 1 (4.17) | 0 (0) | |
| GTC | 1 (4.17) | 0 (0) | |
| Headache | 1 (4.17) | 0 (0) | |
| Hemoptysis | 0 (0) | 1 (6.25) | |
| Limb numbness | 5 (20.83) | 1 (6.25) | |
| Limb weakness | 7 (29.17) | 7 (43.75) | |
| Symptoms/signs | |||
| Neurologic symptoms | |||
| Conscious change | 7 (29.17) | 6 (37.5) | 0.84 |
| Unsteady gait | 12 (50) | 3 (18.75) | 0.10 |
| Seizure | 1 (4.17) | 3 (18.75) | 0.98 |
| Headache | 1 (4.17) | 0 (0) | 0.6 |
| Amnesia | 4 (16.67) | 0 (0) | 0.12 |
| Paresthesia/limb numbness | 17 (70.83) | 9 (56.25) | 0.54 |
| Limb weakness | 11 (45.83) | 8 (50) | 1 |
| Psychiatric symptoms | |||
| Agitation | 4 (16.67) | 10 (62.5) | 0.01 |
| Hallucination | 6 (25) | 4 (25) | 1 |
| Dependence | 2 (8.33) | 5 (31.25) | 0.99 |
| Hematology | 0.85 | ||
| Pancytopenia | 1 (4.16) | 1 (6.25) | |
| Normal | 23 (95.84) | 15 (93.75) | |
| Cardiovascular system | 0.05 | ||
| Shock | 0 (0) | 2 (12.5) | |
| Palpitation | 1 (4.16) | 3 (18.75) | |
| Normal | 23 (95.84) | 11 (68.75) | |
| GI/GU organ systems | 0.20 | ||
| AKI | 0 (0) | 2 (12.5) | |
| Abdominal pain | 2 (8.33) | 1 (6.25) | |
| Constipation | 2 (8.33) | 0 (0) | |
| Urine retention | 0 (0) | 1 (6.25) | |
| Normal | 20 (83.34) | 12 (75) | |
| Respiratory symptoms | 0.42 | ||
| Dyspnea | 1 (4.16) | 0 (0) | |
| Hemoptysis | 0 (0) | 1 (6.25) | |
| Respiratory muscle Weakness |
1 (4.16) | 0 (0) | |
| Normal | 22 (91.68) | 15 (93.75) | |
| Poison severity score (PSS) | 0.15 | ||
| 1 | 9 (37.5) | 3 (18.75) | |
| 2 | 14 (58.33) | 11 (68.75) | |
| 3 | 1 (4.17) | 2 (12.5) | |
| Disposition | 0.59 | ||
| ED observation | 11 (45.83) | 6 (37.5) | |
| Admission to ward | 12 (50) | 8 (50) | |
| ICU admission | 1 (4.17) | 2 (12.5) | |
| Admission length (days) | 9 (6–13) | 5.5 (3–12) | 0.26 |