METHANOL POISONING IN THREE CASES: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Methanol is a very poisonous substance that is used as an industrial solvent and automotive antifreeze. toxic dose is between 20-250 ml and causes neurological symptoms such as headache, cerebral edema and putamen necrosis within the first 12 to 14 hours. central nervous system and visual cortex are the main areas which are damaged by methanol poisoning. methyl alcohol is not toxic until its toxic metabolites turn into formic acid. formic acid is especially responsible for the clinical findings. serum half-life of methanol is 14 to 20 hours in mild and 24 to 30 hours in severe toxicity. gastric lavage, fomepizole, ethanol and hemodialysis are used in the treatment. in this study, we aimed to review and discuss information from literature about the treatment and monitoring of methanol poisoning in three cases followed at emergency department.