Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
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J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. · Aug 1999
Paracetamol overdose in a liver transplantation centre: an 8-year experience.
Paracetamol is a readily available, widely used analgesic that can cause serious hepatic injury when taken in overdose. The aims of this study were to assess the frequency of attendance at the Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre for paracetamol overdose, the frequency of referral to the Victorian liver transplant unit after serious overdoses, the morbidity and mortality rates in all patients treated and the appropriateness of treatment. ⋯ We found that serious liver injury following overdose was uncommon, liver transplantation was rarely needed and death was rare. Although inappropriate delay in instituting N-acetylcysteine treatment after admission to hospital or failure to treat still occurred in a number of cases, delay in presentation to hospital was the main predictor of liver damage.