Saving the life of a young man in a deep coma, multiple organ failure due to drug poisoning

After a dinner with alcohol, a 23-year-old man (Hanoi) was found unconscious in his rented room. His friend called 115 and transferred him to the Emergency Department of Hospital 19-8 ( Ministry of Public Security ) in a deep coma, gasping for breath, and blood foam coming out of his nose and mouth.

According to information from Hospital 19-8, at the Emergency Department, the patient was intubated, put on a ventilator and transferred to the Intensive Care - Anti-Poison Department with the above critical condition.

According to the friend, after dinner, the young man left the room for about an hour, and when he returned, the above condition appeared.

At the Emergency Department, the young man was found to be in a deep coma, with no spontaneous breathing, continuous regurgitation of pink fluid mixed with blood through the endotracheal tube (a sign of severe pulmonary edema and alveolar hemorrhage), rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, and anuria.

Notably, the patient's laboratory results were positive for morphine and ethanol, but negative for methanol. Blood gas showed severe metabolic acidosis, severe hypoxia with CO₂ retention. Other results included elevated cardiac enzymes and impaired liver and kidney function. Chest X-ray showed white opacity in both lungs.

The patient also had a CT scan of the brain for further screening, the results were normal. Doctors diagnosed that the young man had morphine poisoning with complications of coma, progressive acute respiratory failure (ARDS), myocardial damage, multiple organ failure, a very serious prognosis, and a high risk of death.

Immediately, the patient was placed on lung-protective mechanical ventilation according to the “ARDS network” protocol, given specific antidotes, aggressive hemodynamic support, and bronchoscopy.

After 3 days, the male patient's health improved significantly, he regained consciousness, his lungs gradually recovered, his organ functions recovered well, and his kidneys began to function again. The patient was taken off the ventilator and the endotracheal tube was removed.

After 8 days of intensive resuscitation and anti-poisoning treatment, the patient responded well, his lungs recovered well, he was alert and able to function normally, and was discharged to a lower level hospital for continued monitoring and healtheducation .

According to Dr. Chu Duc Thanh, Department of Intensive Care and Anti-Poisoning, Hospital 19-8, this poisoning case is a warning for public health, especially for today's youth, when addictive substances such as morphine, heroin, synthetic marijuana or drugs are not only used in traditional forms, but also "disguised" as cough medicine, candy, electronic cigarettes... can all cause brain damage, acute respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, or multiple organ failure leading to rapid death, especially when used uncontrolled or combined with alcohol.

Young people need to raise awareness and stay away from stimulants, because just one try could be the last. When there are unusual symptoms after using a strange substance, the patient should be taken immediately to the nearest medical facility for timely emergency treatment.

THIEN LAM

Source: https://nhandan.vn/cuu-song-nam-thanh-nien-hon-me-sau-suy-da-tang-do-ngo-doc-ma-tuy-post885383.html