Scand J Urol Nephrol
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Scand J Urol Nephrol · Jan 2006
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyUse of the osmolal gap to guide the start and duration of dialysis in methanol poisoning.
Rapid diagnosis and treatment of methanol poisoning is mandatory. Dependence on serum methanol analysis in this situation may delay diagnosis and treatment. The anion and osmolal gaps have been recommended for use as diagnostic tools, but the use of these gaps to evaluate the length of hemodialysis treatment has only been emphasized in a few reports. We evaluated the usefulness of the osmolal gap in estimating the need for dialysis and the duration of this treatment in 17 methanol-poisoned subjects. ⋯ In the absence of serum methanol analyses, the osmolal gap is useful to assess the indication for and duration of hemodialysis in methanol-poisoned patients. In mass poisoning situations, use of the osmolal gap makes it possible to reduce the duration of dialysis in a safe manner.