Retained drugs in the gastrointestinal tracts of deceased victims of oral drug overdose.

AbstractContext. The extent of non-absorbed drug burden in the GI tract following overdose is unknown. Patients who present with clinical signs of toxicity may not undergo decontamination due to assumption that the drug has already been completely absorbed and because of limited scientific evidence of benefit for routine GI decontamination in poisoned patients. Objective. The goal of this study was to assess whether people who die of an oral overdose have unabsorbed drug present in the GI tract. The secondary goal was to analyze pharmacologic characteristics of retained drugs when present. Materials and methods. Retrospective review of autopsy reports from 2008 to 2010, whose cause of death was determined as “intoxication” or “overdose, was performed at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York (OCME NYC).” Decedents of all ages were identified via electronic OCME database. Inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) cause of death “intoxication” or “overdose” noted by forensic autopsy, 2) i...