Unusual abdominal complications of a suicidal overdose of analgesic and psychotropic drugs in an elderly patient.

A suicidal 67-year-old woman with manic-depressive psychosis took an overdose of asprin, amitriptyline and diazepam. The initial effects were pyrexia, tachycardia, hyperpnea, metabolic acidosis, electrocardiographic changes, hypoprothrombinemia, gastritis, and pancreatitis. Four to six weeks later, she was examined because of persistent abdominal pain with mausea, anorexia anemia, and possibly a malabsorption syndrome. An exploratory laparotomy was performed. The surgeon found several previous adhesions, a small intestinal volvulus, and a nodular pancreas. This suggested previous perforation of the small bowel from enteritis, causing a "blind-loop" syndrone. The invilved section of the small bowel was resected. With appropriate treatment, the patient is well three months after operation.