Author Interviews, Critical Care - Intensive Care - ICUs, Mental Health Research, Opiods, Pediatrics / 23.12.2019
Pediatric Acute Opioid Poisonings Increasing
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Megan Land, MD, PGY 6
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Fellowship
Emory University School of Medicine
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
- Much of the research on the opioid crisis has focused on the impact to adults; however, children and adolescents in the US are also negatively affected by the opioid epidemic.
- The percentage of children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit increased over the study period as the clinical effects of the opioid ingestions increased in severity.
- The primary intent of opioid ingestions was suspected suicide attempts in adolescents resulting in increasing admissions to a psychiatric hospital.
- Opioids associated with the highest odds of needing an intervention in an intensive care unit were methadone, fentanyl, and heroin.