Can alcohol control policies reduce cirrhosis mortality? An interrupted time-series analysis in Lithuania.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The relationship between alcohol consumption and cirrhosis is well established. Policies that can influence population-level use of alcohol should, in turn, impact cirrhosis. We examined the effect of population-level alcohol control policies on cirrhosis mortality rates in Lithuania - a high-income European Union country with high levels of alcohol consumption. METHODS: Age-standardized, monthly liver mortality data (deaths per 100,000 adults, aged 15+) from Lithuania were analysed from 2001 to 2018 (n = 216 months) while controlling for economic confounders (gross domestic product and inflation). An interrupted time-series analysis was conducted to estimate the effect of three alcohol control policies implemented in 2008, 2017 and 2018 and the number of cirrhosis deaths averted. RESULTS: There was a significant effect of the 2008 (P < .0001) and 2017 (P = .0003) alcohol control policies but a null effect of the 2018 policy (P = .40). Following the 2008 policy, the cirrhosis mortality rate dropped from 4.93 to 3.41 (95% CI: 3.02-3.80) deaths per 100,000 adults, which equated to 493 deaths averted. Further, we found that following the 2017 policy, the mortality rate dropped from 2.85 to 2.01 (95% CI: 1.50-2.52) deaths per 100,000 adults, corresponding to 245 deaths averted. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the hypothesis that alcohol control policies can have a significant, immediate effect on cirrhosis mortality. These policy measures are cost-effective and aid in reducing the burden of liver disease.

Accidental Intravenous Administration of Simethicone in a 4-Year-Old Patient: A Case Report.

Simethicone is an antiflatulent medication exclusively administered orally, thus its systemic effects remain unknown. We present a case of an inadvertent intravenous administration of simethicone to a 4-year-old patient, precipitating respiratory difficulty, cyanosis, and altered mental status. The patient's condition improved rapidly with appropriate interventions, leading to discharge in a fully recovered state. To date, only one documented instance of intravenous simethicone administration exists in medical literature.

Higher levels of plasma Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) are associated with lower suicidal ideation in depressed patients compared to controls and suicide attempters, independently from depression severity.

Introduction: Suicidal ideation, an important risk factor for suicide attempts, has an unclear neurobiological basis and is potentially linked to the dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and immune-inflammatory systems. While inflammatory markers have been associated with suicide attempts and, to a lower extent suicidal ideation, the data on the role of a stress-response system is less robust, with most studies carried out with cortisol showing inconsistent results. The present study extends on the previous studies implicating stress-response and immune-inflammatory systems in suicidal thoughts and behaviours, focusing on the associations of several stress-response (adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)) and immune-inflammatory (C-reactive protein (CRP),interle ukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)) with suicidal ideation severity in recent suicide attempters, patients with major depressive disorder, and non-psychiatric controls. Methods: This observational study included 156 adults from three Vilnius hospitals, recruited into one of the three groups in equal parts: recent suicide attempters, patients with major depressive disorder in current depressive episode, and non-psychiatric controls. Measures included the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation/Suicide Severity Index (BSS/SSI), alongside sociodemographic data, alcohol, tobacco use, and morning blood samples, measuring plasma ACTH, cortisol, DHEA, CRP, and IL-6. Data were analysed with non-parametric tests, Kendall's tau correlation, and multivariate linear regression adjusted for confounders. Results: We found a negative correlation between the plasma ACTH levels and suicidal ideation severity (tau = -0.130, p = 0.033), which was driven by the patients with major depressive disorder (tau = -0.237, p = 0.031). Suicidal ideation severity was also negatively correlated with TNF-alpha (tau = -0.231; p < 0.001), positively correlated with IL-6 (tau = 0.154, p = 0.015), and CRP levels (tau = 0.153, p = 0.015), but no differences were observed in group-stratified analyses. The association between plasma ACTH levels and suicidal ideation severity in patients with major depressive disorder remained robust to adjustment for major confounders (adjusted for age, sex, education years, body mass index, smoking status, plasma CRP and PEth concentration (measuring chronic alcohol exposure), and antidepressant use) in the linear regression model (t = -2.71, p = 0.011), as well as additionally adjusting for depression severity (t = -2.99, p = 0.006). Discussion: The present study shows an association between plasma ACTH levels and suicidal ideation severity in patients with major depressive disorder, robust to adjustment for antidepressant use and depression severity. This finding highlights the potential role of ACTH, in elucidating the effects of stress and mental health disorders. Our findings underscore the importance of the HPA axis in the diagnosis and treatment of suicidal ideation in major depressive disorder and invite further research on interventions targeting this pathway.

Clinical effects of cannabis compared to synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs): a retrospective cohort study of presentations with acute toxicity to European hospitals between 2013 and 2020.

INTRODUCTION: Cannabis is the most common recreational drug worldwide and synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists are currently the largest group of new psychoactive substances. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical features and outcomes of lone acute cannabis toxicity with lone acute synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist toxicity in a large series of presentations to European emergency departments between 2013-2020. METHODS: Self-reported drug exposure, clinical, and outcome data were extracted from the European Drug Emergencies Network Plus which is a surveillance network that records data on drug-related emergency department presentations to 36 centres in 24 European countries. Cannabis exposure was considered the control in all analyses. To compare the lone cannabis and lone synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist groups, univariate analysis using chi squared testing was used for categorical variables and non-parametric Mann-Whitney U- testing for continuous variables. Statistical significance was defined as a P value of <0.05. RESULTS: Between 2013-2020 there were 54,314 drug related presentations of which 2,657 were lone cannabis exposures and 503 lone synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist exposures. Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist presentations had statistically significantly higher rates of drowsiness, coma, agitation, seizures and bradycardia at the time of presentation. Cannabis presentations were significantly more likely to have palpitations, chest pain, hypertension, tachycardia, anxiety, vomiting and headache. DISCUSSION: Emergency department presentations involving lone synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist exposures were more likely to have neuropsychiatric features and be admitted to a psychiatric ward, and lone cannabis exposures were more likely to have cardiovascular features. Previous studies have shown variability in the acute toxicity of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists compared with cannabis but there is little comparative data available on lone exposures. There is limited direct comparison in the current literature between lone synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist and lone cannabis exposure, with only two previous poison centre series and two clinical series. Whilst this study is limited by self-report being used to identify the drug(s) involved in the presentations, previous studies have demonstrated that self-report is reliable in emergency department presentations with acute drug toxicity. CONCLUSION: This study directly compares presentations with acute drug toxicity related to the lone use of cannabis or synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists. It supports previous findings of increased neuropsychiatric toxicity from synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists compared to cannabis and provides further data on cardiovascular toxicity in lone cannabis use.

Significantly elevated phosphatidylethanol levels in recent suicide attempters, but not in depressed controls and healthy volunteers.

INTRODUCTION: Suicide is a complex transdiagnostic phenomenon. It is strongly associated with, but not exclusive to major depressive disorder (MDD). Hazardous alcohol drinking has also been linked to an increased risk of suicidal behaviours, however, it is often underreported. The study aimed to evaluate whether an objective measure of chronic alcohol use, phosphatidylethanol (PEth) could be useful as a biomarker in clinical practice. METHOD: ology. The present case-control multi-centric study recruited 156 participants into three study groups: 52 patients treated for major depressive disorder (MDD), 51 individuals immediately following a suicide attempt (SA), and 53 volunteers. Sociodemographic data, medical history, and laboratory data, including PEth concentrations and C-reactive protein levels, were collected from study participants. RESULTS: PEth concentrations were the highest in suicide attempters (232,54 ± 394,01 ng/ml), followed by patients with MDD (58,39 ± 135,82 ng/ml), and the control group (24,45 ± 70,83 ng/ml) (Kruskall Wallis χ2 = 12.23, df = 2, p = .002). In a multinomial logistic regression model with adjustments, PEth concentration was able to predict belonging to suicide attempters' group, but not to depression group (p = .01). Suicide attempters were also more likely to underreport their recent alcohol consumption. LIMITATIONS: We did not analyze SA methods, psychiatric comorbidity and several other factors that might be associated with PEth levels, such as body mass index, race, and haemoglobin levels. Sample recruited in hospital settings may not be representative of the whole population. The results of this adult-only study cannot be generalized to adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: PEth levels in recent suicide attempters significantly exceeded those of patients with MDD and controls. Suicide attempters also were more likely to underreport their alcohol consumption when questioned about their consuption. PEth might be an interesting biomarker to evaluate individuals at risk of SA.

Impact of the WHO "best buys" for alcohol policy on consumption and health in the Baltic countries and Poland 2000-2020.

Alcohol use is a major risk factor for burden of disease. This narrative review aims to document the effects of major alcohol control policies, in particular taxation increases and availability restrictions in the three Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) between 2000 and 2020. These measures have been successful in curbing alcohol sales, in general without increasing consumption of alcoholic beverages from unrecorded sources; although for more recent changes this may have been partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, findings from time-series analyses suggest improved health, measured as reductions in all-cause and alcohol-attributable mortality, as well as narrowing absolute mortality inequalities between lower and higher educated groups. For most outcomes, there were sex differences observed, with alcohol control policies more strongly affecting males. In contrast to this successful path, alcohol control policies were mostly dismantled in the neighbouring country of Poland, resulting in a rising death toll due to liver cirrhosis and other alcohol-attributable deaths. The natural experiment in this region of high-income European countries with high consumption levels highlights the importance of effective alcohol control policies for improving population health.

Change of quality of life in patients with chronic pain with prescription opioid usage after opioid detoxification.

BACKGROUND: Managing patients with chronic pain with long-term opioid therapy can be challenging for the prescribers, as the development of treatment complications such as addiction and opioid-induced hyperalgesia has to be considered. There is a paucity of information on the use of opioid detoxification protocols in patients with chronic pain on a long-term opioid therapy who have developed opioid-induced complications. AIM: To determine the effectiveness of detoxification treatment while presenting a different opioid detoxification protocol intended to cease patient's prescription opioid use while assessing patient's quality of life (QoL) changes, implicated by our treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 41 patients with chronic pain with long-term prescription opioid usage who underwent elective opioid detoxification in years 2010-2019 at the Toxicology Centre of Republican Vilnius University Hospital. We ceased prescription opioids during detoxification treatment and monitored withdrawal symptoms, pain intensity, and QoL by using SF-36 scores before and right after and a minimum of 3 months after detoxification. RESULTS: This study was fully completed by 14 patients. At the third SF-36 evaluation, 12 out of 14 patients (85.71 percent) reported the detoxification treatment as beneficial to their overall health status compared to that before the treatment, and SF-36 scores after detoxification were significantly higher than before the treatment (p = 0.001). A decreased pain level right after detoxification was indicated by 11 patients (78.6 percent). Significant pain decrease was observed both right after and at least 3 months after the opioid detoxification treatment (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As significant pain reduction, QoL life improvement, and opioid usage cessation were observed after opioid detoxification in the majority of patients with chronic pain, this leads us to believe that such a treatment can be safely administered and appropriated.

Alcohol control policy measures and all-cause mortality in Lithuania: an interrupted time-series analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Alcohol use has been identified as a major risk factor for burden of mortality and disease, particularly for countries in eastern Europe. During the past two decades, several countries in this region have implemented effective alcohol policy measures to combat this burden. The aim of the current study was to measure the association between Lithuania's alcohol control policies and adult all-cause mortality. DESIGN: Interrupted time-series methodology by means of general additive models. SETTING: Lithuania. PARTICIPANTS: Adult population of Lithuania, aged 20 years and older. MEASUREMENTS: Alcohol control policies were ascertained via a document review of relevant legislation materials. Policy effects were evaluated as follows: (1) slope changes in periods of legislative (non-)activity with regard to alcohol control policy (analysis 1); (2) level changes of three interventions following recommendations of the World Health Organization (analysis 2); and (3) level changes of seven interventions judged a priori by an international panel of experts (analysis 3). Mortality was measured by sex-stratified and total monthly age-standardized rates of all-cause mortality for the adult population. FINDINGS: During the period 2001-18, effective alcohol control policy measures were implemented on several occasions, and in those years the all-cause mortality rate declined by approximately 3.2% more than in years without such policies. In particular, the implementation of increased taxation in 2017 was associated with reduced mortality over and above the general trend for men and in total for all analyses, which amounted to 1452 deaths avoided (95% confidence interval = -166 to -2739) in the year following the implementation of the policy. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol control policies in Lithuania appear to have reduced the overall adult all-cause mortality over and above secular trends.

Challenges in the diagnostics and management of hydrochlorothiazide-induced severe hyponatremia in a habitual beer drinker.

INTRODUCTION: Beer potomania is a syndrome of severe hyponatremia caused by excessive beer consumption. The risk of hyponatremia increases in the case of a combination of beer potomania and the use of thiazide diuretics. CASE REPORT: A 55-year-old male patient with the anamnesis of a long-lasting alcohol use disorder was presented to the emergency department after seizures accompanied by an impaired mental status. He had been drinking beer regularly for ten years. On physical examination, the patient was tachypneic, tachycardic, disorientated, restless, the Glasgow Coma Scale score of 9, observed tremor, and the smell of alcohol from the mouth. Laboratory results showed plasma sodium 105  mmol/L, blood urea nitrogen 1.8 mmol/L, the alcohol concentration in the blood 0.06 g/l, and calculated serum osmolality 219 mOsm/kg H2O. After a detailed initial evaluation of the patient and labs for hyponatremia, a diagnosis of beer potomania was established. On the third day of hospitalization, the patient's anamnesis was filled with information about the use of Valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide, together with reduced salt intake in the diet for three months for arterial hypertension treatment. It was decided that the combination of heavy beer drinking with the use of diuretic and reduced consumption of salt provoked hyponatremia. The patient was treated with infusion therapy of sodium chloride; plasma sodium level reached 136 on the third day of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This case represents an unusual syndrome of beer potomania in conjunction with hydrochlorothiazide usage and reduced salt consumption, which can result in severe hyponatremia that may provoke severe neurologic damage.

Dose Escalation of Naltrexone to Reduce Stress Responses Associated With Opioid Antagonist Induction: A Double-blind Randomized Trial.

CONTEXT: To describe the role of opioid antagonist induction in reducing stress response and withdrawal symptoms. OBJECTIVE: Complexity of naltrexone induction is limiting broader applicability of opioid antagonist-assisted abstinence. The aim of this clinical trial was to assess the stress response to 2 low-dose naltrexone induction protocols under minimal oral sedation. DESIGN: Double-blind randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Open setting in-patient unit. PARTICIPANTS: Adults with opioid use disorder, and at least a year-long history of opioid use. INTERVENTION PROTOCOL: Patients received either a single 12.5 mg naltrexone oral dose (SI group) or escalating dosage regimen starting from 50 µg up to a cumulative dose of 12.5 mg (ED group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Differences in cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentrations 1 hour after the start of naltrexone induction. RESULTS: In all, 124 patients were enrolled and 68 remained in the trial at the point of randomization-33 in SI and 35 in ED group. Eight patients were excluded from final analysis. Plasma cortisol and ACTH concentrations were significantly higher in SI group; mean difference between groups 313 nmol/L (95% confidence interval [CI] 182-444, P < 0.001) and 36.9 pg/mL (95% CI 12.3-61.4, P = 0.004), respectively. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: SI patients experienced significant increases in plasma cortisol and ACTH concentrations, and withdrawal scores. In ED group these measures remained at or below baseline throughout the 24-hour period from start of naltrexone induction. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to a single 12.5-mg dose, the escalating naltrexone dosing regimen produced no significant increase in stress response and withdrawal scores during antagonist induction.

Alcohol control policy and changes in alcohol-related traffic harm.

AIMS: To study the impact of alcohol control policy measures (i.e. increases in taxation, restrictions on availability, including minimum purchasing age regulations, legislation on drink driving and advertisement bans) on alcohol-related traffic harm in Lithuania between January 2004 and February 2019. DESIGN: Analyses of trend data on the proportion of alcohol-related collisions and crashes, injury and mortality, adjusting for secular trends, seasonality, periods of alcohol control measure implementation and economic development. Generalized additive mixed models were used. Multiple sensitivity analyses were conducted. SETTING: Lithuania. CASES: Monthly number of alcohol-related cases of traffic collisions and crashes, injuries and deaths. INTERVENTIONS AND COMPARATORS: Periods of time during which new alcohol control measures were implemented and/or augmented compared to periods when they were not. MEASUREMENTS: Monthly data for 2004 to 2019 from routine statistics of the Lithuanian Road Police Service. FINDINGS: All indicators decreased consistently and significantly after the implementation of alcohol control measures, including increased taxation, reduction of availability and a ban on advertisement, starting in 2014. On average, each implemented policy measure permanently reduced the proportion of alcohol-attributable crashes by 0.55% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.21-0.90%; P = 0.002], the proportion of alcohol-attributable injuries by 0.60% (95% CI = 0.24-0.97%; P = 0.001) and the proportion of alcohol-attributable deaths by 0.13% (95% CI = 0.10-0.15%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol control policy measures, including measures to reduce overall level of alcohol consumption, were associated with a marked decrease in alcohol-related traffic harm.

Consequences of an extreme diet in the professional sport: Refeeding syndrome to a bodybuilder.

Refeeding syndrome, as a life-threatening condition, is well known among severely malnourished or deeply metabolically stressed patients. This case presents an atypical manifestation of the syndrome to a young bodybuilder, whose extreme diet, including 5 months of insufficient nourishment before the sport competition and 6 days of carbohydrates overload afterwards, has led him to a bilateral lower - limb paralysis and drastic homeostatic disturbances. Severe hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, hypomagnesemia and hyperglycemia with mildly elevated liver enzymes have occurred. The patient could barely move his legs and arms, and his state has been followed by a hypertensive crisis, which required an immediate intravenous treatment. Although his weight was 112,5 kg with a body mass index of 32,2 kg per square meter, and his blood serum albumin concentration resulted inside the normal range, the overall condition was corresponding to the state of extenuated and malnourished patients. This case reflects to high prevalence of eating disorders or non-adequate nutrition among weight-sensitive sport athletes. The importance of prevention and opportune diagnostics of refeeding syndrome among special vulnerable groups should be considered.

Effects of ketamine on precipitated opiate withdrawal.

OBJECTIVE: N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists were shown to be effective in suppressing the symptoms of opiate withdrawal. Intravenous anesthetic, ketamine, is the most potent N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist available in clinical practice. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of subanesthetic ketamine infusion, as little human data are available on ketamine in precipitated opiate withdrawal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 58 opiate-dependent patients were enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Patients underwent rapid opiate antagonist induction under general anesthesia. Prior to opiate antagonist induction patients were given either placebo (normal saline) or subanesthetic ketamine infusion of 0.5 mg/kg/h. Further evaluations were divided into three phases: anesthetic, early postanesthetic (48 hours), and remote at 4 months after procedure. Cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and gastrointestinal responses to opiate antagonist induction were monitored during anesthesia phase. Changes in plasma cortisol concentrations were measured as stress-response markers. Evaluations during early postanesthetic phase were based on Subjective and Objective Opiate Withdrawal Scales. Remote effects were assessed according to questionnaire based on Addiction Severity Index. RESULTS: Altogether, 50 patients were included in the final analysis. Ketamine group presented better control of withdrawal symptoms, which lasted beyond ketamine infusion itself. Significant differences between Ketamine and Control groups were noted in anesthetic and early postanesthetic phases. There were no differences in effects on outcome after 4 months. CONCLUSION: In this study, subanesthetic ketamine infusion was an effective adjuvant in the correction of acute precipitated opiate withdrawal although it had no long-term effects on treatment of opiate dependence.

Changes in Potassium Concentration During Opioid Antagonist Induction: Comparison of Two Randomized Clinical Trials.

OBJECTIVES: Opioid antagonist induction under general anesthesia or heavy sedation has been criticized due to its associated morbidity and mortality. Information on the potential causes of these complications is limited. We aimed to compare electrolyte concentration changes during rapid opioid antagonist induction under general anesthesia and conscious sedation, and to find out whether these changes are associated with cardiovascular complications. METHODS: We used a pooled database analysis of 2 prospective randomized controlled clinical trials carried out in Lithuania between 2002 and 2014. Opioid-dependent patients underwent opioid antagonist induction under general anesthesia (n = 50) or conscious sedation (n = 68). Electrolyte levels were measured before the procedure, 3 hours after antagonist induction, and 3 hours after the end of the procedure. RESULTS: General anesthesia was associated with initial hyperkalemia, which was followed by rapid reduction in potassium concentration (P < 0.01). Plasma potassium increase was noted in 92% of cases, and in 24%, these levels increased above 6.0 mmol/L, with a highest value of 6.7 mmol/L. Potassium concentration changes in the conscious sedation group were not statistically significant. There were no differences in sodium, calcium, chloride, and magnesium concentrations in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma potassium concentration changes in the general anesthesia group were significant, whereas conscious sedation had no effect on electrolyte levels. Our data support the recommendation of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and other professional societies that opioid antagonist induction under general anesthesia must not be offered.

Glutathione and glutathione S-transferase levels in patients with liver metastases of colorectal cancer and other hepatic disorders.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Glutathione and glutathione S-transferases (GST) are involved in cell defence against reactive oxygen species, which induces oxidative stress and are associated with different chronic diseases. The aim of the present study was to determine the differences in reduced glutathione (GSH) and GST levels in patients with different liver diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Overall, 114 patients were enrolled in this study: 58 patients with colorectal cancer (18 without and 40 with liver metastases), 27 with liver steatosis, 29 with alcoholic cirrhosis and a group of 40 healthy volunteers. The levels of GSH and GST in blood serum were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) according to the manufacturer's guidelines. RESULTS: Significant differences in GSH and GST levels were observed in most of the groups compared to the healthy volunteers (GSH: 52.72 µg/mL, GST: 0.53 ng/mL): with hepatic steatosis (GSH: 17.04 µg/mL, p < 0.001; GST: 5.89 ng/mL, p < 0.001), alcoholic cirrhosis (GSH: 62.04 µg/mL, p < 0.003; GST: 0.94 ng/mL, p < 0.001) and liver metastases (GSH: 37.84 µg/mL, p < 0.001, GST: 1.25 ng/mL, p=0.747). CONCLUSION: The different GSH and GST levels in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases, liver steatosis and alcoholic cirrhosis indicate the differences in antioxidative system damage and its compensatory possibilities and could serve as potential biomarkers for its correction.

[Safety and effectiveness of opiate antagonist detoxification under general anesthesia]. / Opioidu antagonistu ankstyvosios indukcijos metodika taikant bendraja anestezija. Proceduros saugumas ir efektyvumas.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate safety and effectiveness of opiate antagonist detoxification under general anesthesia according to available prospective and retrospective data. METHODS: We analyzed all detoxification cases that were performed in Vilnius University Emergency Hospital in the period of 2002-2005. Data of 65 patients from prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study and 21 retrospective cases were included in the study. RESULTS: Full opiate receptor blockade was achieved in 85 cases (98.84%). No complications related to detoxification procedure or general anesthesia were recorded. Differences in procedure protocols and possible implications for clinical practice are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: The protocol of the prospective study may be recommended as a safe and effective detoxification method.

Myocardial Rupture following Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.

We present the first case of severe cardiotoxicity of carbon monoxide leading to myocardial rupture and fatal outcome. 83-year-old woman was hospitalized 4 hours after the fire in her house with no respiratory or cardiac symptoms. After two days, she has suffered sudden collapse leading to cardiac arrest. Postmortem examination revealed intramural haemorrhage with myocardial rupture at the apex of the left ventricle. Minimal stenosis was noted in the proximal coronary arteries with no evidence of distal occlusion or any other long-standing heart disease. This case supports recommendations for targeted cardiovascular investigations in cases of CO poisoning.