Print Page - Vodka in Intravenous - New Australian Medecine!

Title: Vodka in Intravenous - New Australian Medecine!
Post by: Fredledingue on October 10, 2007, 12:32:11 PM

That looks like a far-fetched scene from a Russian comedy... except that it was in reality and not in Russia (where you would think that kind of stuffs happens).

It's absolutely incredible:

Quote from: Reuters

) - Australian doctors used an intravenous feed of vodka to keep an Italian tourist alive after he consumed large quantities of a poisonous substance.

The 24-year-old man, in an apparent bid at self-harm, had swallowed ethylene glycol, found in antifreeze, which can cause death. Doctors administered pure alcohol, the conventional antidote, but exhausted the hospital's supply.

Desperate to continue the treatment the doctors at Mackay Base Hospital in Queensland state hooked up an intravenous feed of vodka, hospital officials said.

"The patient was drip-fed about three standard drinks an hour for three days in the intensive care unit," Dr Todd Fraser said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Fortunately for him he was in a medically induced coma for a good portion of that. By the time he woke up I think his hangover would have well and truly gone," Fraser said.

"The hospital's administrators were also very understanding when we explained our reasons for buying a case of vodka."

The Italian man was treated in the hospital two months ago and has since made a successful recovery. News of his treatment was only released on Wednesday.

link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071010/wl_nm/australia_vodka_dc;_ylt=Ar8DlP9_aakCGEJ01FVV_mRvaA8F)

Title: Re: Vodka in Intravenous - New Australian Medecine!
Post by: bringbackwigs on October 10, 2007, 01:02:35 PM

Haha. That's awesome.

Title: Re: Vodka in Intravenous - New Australian Medecine!
Post by: HighVoltage123 on October 11, 2007, 02:29:39 AM

I agree :
)

Title: Re: Vodka in Intravenous - New Australian Medecine!
Post by: Major Zee Lee on October 11, 2007, 03:39:55 AM

I am just trying to figure why it was easier to go buy vodka than go buy alcohol...

Title: Re: Vodka in Intravenous - New Australian Medecine!
Post by: targo88 on October 12, 2007, 09:00:26 AM

remoteness of the town??

mmmmmmm vodka buzz....... ;D

Title: Re: Vodka in Intravenous - New Australian Medecine!
Post by: illy on October 14, 2007, 08:08:04 PM

Vodka??

That's horrible.

I would start litigating if they used anything other than Tullamore Dew.

Clear liquors just scream malpractice.

Title: Re: Vodka in Intravenous - New Australian Medecine!
Post by: HighVoltage123 on October 17, 2007, 07:42:35 AM

hey illy is your avatar Dr. Strangelove (Peter Sellers) form "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" (really good movie btw :))

Title: Re: Vodka in Intravenous - New Australian Medecine!
Post by: paincake on October 17, 2007, 08:24:14 AM

Intravenous alcohol has long been used as an antidote. I think it maybe used to treat poisoning due to anti-freeze consumption. I believe the rational for it's effectiveness is that the enzyme that digests the anti-freeze INTO a toxic substance is the same enzyme that digests alcohol. However, it prefers alcohol to anti-freeze. So if there is enough alcohol in the blood the enzyme will not digest the antifreeze to poison and will eventually pass unchanged.

I'll click the link now...

Title: Re: Vodka in Intravenous - New Australian Medecine!
Post by: illy on October 17, 2007, 03:18:35 PM

Quote from: paincake on October 17, 2007, 08:24:14 AM

Interesting.

Quote from: HighVoltage123 on October 17, 2007, 07:42:35 AM

hey illy is your avatar Dr. Strangelove (Peter Sellers) form "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" (really good movie btw :))

Yep. Great film.

IAP Political Forum

Social Discussions => Health and Education => Topic started by: Fredledingue on October 10, 2007, 12:32:11 PM