Figure 1

The decision represented by the node (square) at the left, is between receiving antidote, NAC and methionine when a patients is presented for treatment within 10 hours (a) and 10-24 hours (b) of the acute ingestion of paracetamol. Each chance event is shown as a solid circle and represent either the chance of developing liver failure (ALT > 1000 IU) or not developing liver failure. The numbers on each branch are probabilities and outcome is represented by cost [in million (M) rupees (LKR)] per number of lives saves (1000 hypothetical patients in each arm were considered) at the terminal node (rectangular). The probabilities and outcomes are explained in Table 1.