Hemoperfusion with activated carbon in the treatment of exogenous acute poisoning

: Reference is made to results obtained at the University of Messina Anaesthesiology and Resuscitation department with an "Emoadsorb" haemodepurator set in 18 patients with serious exogenous toxicosis. The criteria used in the indication of this treatment include the seriousness of the clinical picture and quantitative and qualitative assessment of the poison in the blood. A key feature of the system used was a highly biocompatible, hydroxyethylmetacrylate membrane coating the activated carbon, capable of subtracting toxins in a 300-5000 p.m. range. The effectiveness of the method was appraised clinically and by gas chromatography, to quantify the amount of poison in the blood before and after treatment. Rapid detoxication was obtained in 16/18 cases. It is therefore felt that extracorporeal haemodepuration with A.C. is a sound form of management in cases of acute exogenous toxicosis, and should be more widely employed in resuscitation departments.