13 - Toxic Alcohols Flashcards
1
Q
What is an osmol gap?
A
Difference between measured osmolality and calculated osmolarity
2
Q
What is osmolarity?
A
- Measure of total # of particles in 1 L of solution (molar concentrations)
- Usually calculated
3
Q
What is osmolality?
A
- Measure of total # of particles per kg of solution (molal concentrations)
- Usually measured
4
Q
Formula for calculated osmolarity (mOsm)
A
- 2 * [Na+] + [glucose] + [BUN]
- All concentrations in mmol/L
- Or if concentrations in mEq/L and mg/dL:
- 2 * [Na+ (mEq/L)] + [glucose (mg/dL)]/18 + [BUN (mg/dL)]/2.8
5
Q
How can serum osmolality be affected?
A
- May be increased by contributions of circulating alcohols and other low MW substances
- These substances aren’t included in calculated osmolarity, so there will be a gap (delta Osm)
6
Q
Formula for osmol gap
A
- d Osm = Osm (measured) - Osm (calculated)
- Normal range = 10 +/- 6 mOsm
7
Q
Describe ethanol elimination
A
- 90-95% eliminated by enzymatic oxidation
- 5-10% excreted unchanged (kidney, lung)
- Michaelis-Menten kinetics (-dC/dt = Vmax*C / Km + C)
8
Q
How much ethanol is eliminated in a human?
A
- 100-125 mg/kg/h in occasional drinkers
- Up to 175 mg/kg/h in habitual drinkers
- Average-sized adult metabolizes 7-10 g/h, BAC level falls 15-20 mg/dL/h (in chronic drinkers it falls 30-40 mg/dL/h)
9
Q
Described ethanol metabolism
A
- First pass (ADH in gastric mucosa)
- Liver metabolism
- ADH (cytosol of hepatocytes)
- CYP2E1 (endoplasmic reticulum)
- Perioxidase-catalase system (perioxisomes)
- ALDH (mitochondria)
10
Q
Describe ethanol PD
A
- Selective CNS depressant at low doses
- General CNS depressant at high doses
- MOA = multifactorial (increase of GABA-nergic function; inhibition of NMDA receptors and increase in dopamine release)
- Functional tolerance (habituation)
11
Q
At what BAC level can impairment begin to be detected? What are lethal doses of ethanol in adults and children?
A
- In non-tolerant individuals, impairment of judgement can be detected at levels as low as 25 mg/dL
- Lethal dose = 5-6 g/kg (non-tolerant); children = 3 g/kg
12
Q
Signs and sx of acute ethanol intoxication
A
- Flushed face, tachycardia, increased sweating
- Mydriasis, muscular incoordination, ataxia
- Altered consciousness
- Euphoria, agitation
- Sx of gastric irritation (N/V)
- Death by respiratory depression
13
Q
Stages of acute ethanol intoxication
A
- 50 mg/dL = mild (decreased inhibition, slight incoordination)
- 100 mg/dL = mild to moderate (slow reaction time, altered sensory ability)
- 150 mg/dL = mild to moderate (altered thought processes, personality/ behaviour changes)
- 200 mg/dL = moderate (mental confusion, N/V)
- 300 mg/dL = severe (hypothermia, hypoglycemia, seizures)
- 700 mg/dL = potentially lethal (unconsciousness, decreased reflexes, respiratory depression)
14
Q
Metabolic derangements of acute ethanol intoxication
A
- Hypoglycemia
- Metabolic acidosis (due to lactate and/or ketoacids)
- Hypomagnesemia
15
Q
Management of intoxicated pt
A
- Uncomplicated ethanol OD (monitoring, sedatives if pt antisocial)
- Glucose, oxygen, thiamine
- Confirm alcohol intoxication w/ levels
- Finger stick glucose level
- Electrolytes (magnesium)
- Anion gap and osmol gap