بررسي موارد گچ خوري

Ingestion of plaster: A new and strange method of-committing suicide in Lorestan province

Background: Suicide with plaster is a new and strange way of suicide which has been only committed in Lorestan province during the recent years. Regarding to uncertainty of borders of this issue, characteristics of victims, signs and symptoms and suitable management, this study was done. Methods: This descriptive (cross-sectional) study was performed on patients who committed suicide with ingestion of plaster and referred to Shohadaye Ashayer hospital during 1997-2000. A questionnaire including demographic properties, signs and symptoms, type of treatment and patientʹs outcome was filled out for all patients. Results: Of 40 patients, 57.5 percent were females and 42.5 percent were males. Majority of patients were in range of 10-19 years (45 percent). Suicides frequently occurred in summer and among students (37.5 percent). Half of patients were treated by gastric washing with normal saline that only one of them referred for surgery. Totally, seven victims underwent surgery (laparotomy, gastrotomy, excision of plaster mass, gastrorrhaphy). Half of patients had no sign and symptom. For remaining, the most common symptom and sign were abdominal pain (42.5 percent) and abdominal mass (17.5 percent) in palpitation, respectively. Only one case died who had been intoxicated with organophosphate poisoning at the same time. Conclusion: It seems gastric washing by 2 liter of normal saline immediately at the beginning of treatment and then applying conservative management and continuous following up by daily examination and taking plain abdominal X-ray are consecutively suitable management to rescue such patients.