We found steady decrease of the number of adult intoxicated patients demanding treatment at resuscitation units (the conclusion is based on data obtained from 17 depts. of anaesthesiology and resuscitation (AR), two clinics of AR, 5 ICUs of clinics of internal diseases and depts. from the region of ÚSZ Olomouc). Contrary to this we found increase of number of adult intoxicated patients treated on ICUs of depts. of internal diseases. We also got data from two paediatric clinical resuscitation units – number of intoxicated children increased only slightly or hasn’t changed at all. Important is the fact of increasing number of intoxicated children with drug addiction proved. We found no increase of the death rate of adult intoxicated patients related to shift of their treatment to internal ICUs. We can state that gravity of patients admitted at the internal ICUs demands professionals properly educated. We can conclude that the newly designed section of intensive medicine (with ability to graduate in acute medicine) is inevitable part of modern medicine.

        Key words: acute intoxications – ICU – intensive care – resuscitation care