Gastrointestinal Dialysis with Activated Charcoal and Cathartic in the Treatment of Adolescent Intoxications

This article reports five patients who had taken a substantial medication overdose and presented in coma. Two had taken a salicylate overdose and three a phenobarbital overdose (one of these ingested a combination of phenobarbital and phenytoin). The cases were treated by our standard protocol of supportive therapy and alkaline diuresis plus repetitive oral doses of activated charcoal (gastrointestinal dialysis). All patients were alert and oriented within 24 hours. Toxicokinetic analysis of the blood levels is discussed. Gastrointestinal dialysis represents a relatively noninvasive method that may benefit certain intoxicated patients even after systemic absorption has occurred. The technique and recommendations for its use are discussed and described in detail.