[Severe respiratory complications in acute voluntary drug poisoning. Apropos of 15 cases in 824 poisoning cases].

Respiratory diseases are the most heavy complications that we can meat in self-poisoning persons. Authors report 15 cases of respiratory complications appeared in 824 self-poisoning cases by drugs. Different factors involved in respiratory diseases origin are analysed but only one appears to be significant: the time between poisoning and admission in intensive care unit. The encountered complications are: acute respiratory distress syndrome, Mendelson syndrome, heavy pulmonary infections, pulmonary embolism. Authors argue about the means of prevention. This seems the fundamental aspect, alone capable to decrease the incidence of very heavy complications responsible of a height mortality range (33%).