CCP 222 Toxicology ☠️ Flashcards
GOLDMARK (anion gap mnemonic)
a new mnemonic recommended to replace MUDPILES for causes of anion-gap metabolic acidosis
G - Glycols (ethylene glycol, propylene glycol)
O - Oxoproline (acetaminophen ingestion)
L - L Lactate
D - D Lactate (short bowel, propylene glycol)
M - Methanol
A - ASA
R - Renal failure
K - Ketoacidosis (DKA, starvation, alcoholism)
causes of NAGMA
💵💵💵💵 MONEY SLIDE 💵💵💵💵
- GI (diarrhea, pancreatic fistula)
- Renal (RTA I, II, IV)
- Too much N/S (hyperchloremic)
causes of AGMA (KULT)
💵💵💵💵 MONEY SLIDE 💵💵💵💵
- Ketones (starvation, DKA, alcoholism)
- Uraemia
- Lactate (L and D lactate)
- Toxins (ASA, methanol, ethylene glycol, toluene)
At what point do we intubate profound metabolic acidosis?
What indicates that someone with a metabolic acidosis is “failing”
💵💵💵💵 MONEY SLIDE 💵💵💵💵
When they start to develop a superimposed respiratory acidosis
Steps to preparing a bicarb infusion
🔥🔥🔥MEGA PEARL🔥🔥🔥
- Draw out 30cc of D5W from a 1L bag
- Put 3 amps of NaHCO3- in to replace it
- Standard infusion rate = 250mL/hr
this shit HAS to be in D5W. if you use 0.9% Saline or LR you will create a HYPERTONIC SOLUTION because the Na+ content will be too high. you will fuck up your patient
key physical findings when differentiating a toxic exposure (characterizing a toxidrome)
- odors
- Pupillary findings
- Neuromuscular abnormalities
- Mental status alterations
- Skin findings
- Temperature alterations
- Blood pressure and heart rate alterations
- Respiratory disturbances
what is covered on a “urine drug screen”
- Amphetamines
- Cocaine
- Marijuana
- Opiates
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
the guiding principle of medical toxicology
“treat the patient, not the poison”
Supportive care is key
Delirium tremens clinical findings
- Delirium
- agitation
- tachycardia
- hypertension
- fever
- diaphoresis
Delirium tremens time of onset from last drink
48 to 96 hours
Alcohol withdrawal seizures time of onset from last drink (different from full blown DT’s)
6 to 48 hours
fomepizole MOA
- Fomepizole prevents the formation of toxic alcohol metabolites via inhibition of alcohol dehydrogenase (primary enzyme involved in alcohol metabolism)
- toxic alcohols themselves aren’t toxic, it’s their metabolites/breakdown products
primary treatment for toxic alcohol poisoning
- Inhibition of alcohol dehydrogenase through either fomepizole or ethanol
- this prevents the development of toxic acid metabolites
How to set up a Bicarb infusion for profound metabolic acidosis
- mix sodium bicarbonate 8.4% 3 ampules (150 mEq) in 1L of D5W
- infuse at 250 mL/hour
primary toxic metabolite of methanol
- formate (derived from formic acid)
primary toxic metabolites of ethylene glycol (there’s three… 💎💎💎)
- glycolate
- glyoxylate
- oxalate
harmful manifestations of methanol poisoning
- blindness due to direct toxicity at the optic nerves
2. profound anion gap metabolic acidosis
major manifestations of Ethylene glycol poisoning
- acute kidney injury due to deposition of calcium oxalate crystals within the renal tubules
- profound anion gap metabolic acidosis
EHYLENE GLYCOL = OXALATE CRYSTALS = AKI (because the crystal plug up your GU system)
most common source of ethylene glycol (for ingestion)
- automotive antifreeze
this is oftentimes going to be a suicide attempt in teens/adults. kids are prone to accidental ingestion
most common sources of methanol (for ingestion)
- windshield washer fluid
- automotive antifreeze
- “moonshine” (impure home made alcohol)
classic case is people making home made hooch, their hooch ends up impure, and they get methanol toxic. this is the classic stereotype of the blind Appalachian hillbilly
classic “mixed picture” acid-base disturbance seen in Salicylate toxicity
- respiratory alkalosis (crosses blood brain barrier and stimulates tachypnea. it is NOT a compensatory tachypnea to the metabolic acidosis)
- metabolic acidosis.
- finally respiratory acidosis (when they start to get pooched and their ventilatory effort begins to fail)
Treatment goals for salicylate toxicity
“Alkalinize and dialyze”
key findings of a poisoning history
- time, route, and quantity of exposure
- coingestants
- onset of symptoms
key exam findings in salicylate toxicity
- Vitals: tachycardia, tachypnea/hyperpnea, hyperthermia
- Gastrointestinal (GI): nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain
- CNS: tinnitus/hearing dysfunction, coma/seizures
- Pulmonary: non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome
- Dermatologic: diaphoresis
pathophysiology of salicylate toxicity
- At a physiologic serum pH, salicylic acid exists in an ionized state as a weak acid
- in toxicity (acidic environment), salicylic acid is converted to an un-ionized (highly permeable) state
- ATP production becomes limited secondary to Krebs cycle interference.
- Energy is released in the form of heat as a result of uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation
- Renal hemodynamics are ultimately impaired, and anion gap metabolic acidosis ensues
key pearls for tubing a salicylate toxicity patient
💵💵💵💵 MONEY SLIDE 💵💵💵💵
- Don’t do it!
- Hold off until your hand is forced (deteriorating mental status, acute lung injury, agitation)
- If intubating maintain or exceed minute ventilation requirements
- pursue aggressive bag-valve mask procedures (delayed sequence intubation if possible)
- ensure adequate fluid loading and hydration prior to induction. these patients are usually dry! (also consider administering 1x amp D50 IV immediately before sedation to treat unrecognized neuroglycopenia, a sinister complication of salicylate toxicity)
- use amps of bicarb peri intubation (administer 2 mEq/kg IV bolus sodium bicarbonate)
- RSI with most experienced intubator and get the tube in quick
- adjust vent settings to maximize minute ventilation (e.g. 8-10 cc/kg breaths, high RR)
rescue therapy for acetaminophen toxicity
N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (acetaminophen) abbreviation
APAP
toxic dose range for acetaminophen
- > 150 mg/kg or >10g in adults and adolescents
2. >200-250 mg/kg in infants and toddlers
Stage I of acetaminophen toxicity
quiescent phase…
2-24 hr post ingestion. usually asymptomatic. if symptoms present, usually GI-related (N/V, abdominal tenderness)
liver labs (AST/ALT) and coags (PT/INR) are typically normal, may become mildly elevated
Stage II of acetaminophen toxicity
1-2 days post ingestion, minimal symptoms. may develop RUQ pain
elevated AST/ALT, bilirubin, INR
Stage III of acetaminophen toxicity
72-96 hours post ingestion, Maximal stage of hepatotoxicity!
elevated AST/ALT, Abnormal LFT’s (rising PT/INR)
this is the full meal deal. full blown hepatic failure. this is the stage where these guys get super fucked up
Stage IV of acetaminophen toxicity
> 5 days post ingestion. progression to MODS/Death.
resolution of hepatotoxicity in survivors
what is the clinical utility of activated charcoal (AC) in toxic ingestion?
- Patients may benefit from the administration of activated charcoal (AC) in a single dose of 1 g/kg (maximum dose 50 g)
- Typically only works if given within one to two hours of ingestion
key clinical features of solvents, anesthetics, or sedatives (SAS) Toxidrome
- CNS depression
- decreased LOC (progressing to coma in some cases)
- hypoventilation
- ataxia (difficulty balancing and walking)
- hypothermia
key clinical features of anticholinergic toxidrome
💵💵💵💵 MONEY SLIDE 💵💵💵💵
- dilated pupils (mydriasis) “blind as a bat”
- decreased sweating (anhidrosis) “dry as a bone”
- hyperthermia “hot as hell”
- delirium “mad as a hatter”
- flushed skin “red as a beet”
- decreased UO and decreased bowel sounds (urinary retention and constipation)
- tachycardia
key clinical features of cholinergic toxidrome
💵💵💵💵 MONEY SLIDE 💵💵💵💵
“DUMBBELLS”
- Diarrhea
- Urination
- Miosis
- Bradycardia (increased parasympathetic response)
- Bronchoconstriction
- Excitation (myoclonic twitches/seizures)
- Lacrimation (parasympathetic stimulation of lacrimal glands)
- Lethargy
- Salivation (parasympathetic stimulation of salivary glands)
key clinical features of opioid toxidrome
- pinpoint pupils (miosis)
- central nervous system depression
- respiratory depression
- hypothermia
- hypoactive bowel sounds
key clinical features of Sympathomimetic Toxidrome
- tachycardia
- tachypnea
- hypertension
- anxiety/agitation/delirium/hallucinations
- hyperthermia with diaphoresis
- dilated pupils (mydriasis)
- seizures
pathophysiology of cardiac toxicity associated with cocaine use
- Cocaine is an ester anesthetic that acts via sodium channel blockade
- leads to QRS widening and slowed conduction on ECG
key clinical differences between Acute sympathomimetic and anticholinergic toxidromes
- sympathomimetic and anticholinergic toxidromes have similar features of febrile agitated delirium with tachycardia and hypertension
- Major difference: Diaphoresis with sympathomimetics and dry skin with anticholinergics
- Minor differences: Reactive pupils with sympathomimetics and minimally reactive pupils with urinary retention in anticholinergics
mechanism of digoxin
- Cardiac glycosides inhibit sodium-potassium-ATPase
- levels of intracellular Na+ and extracellular K+ increase
- The increase in intracellular Na+ eventually results in an increase in intracellular Ca++, increasing cardiac contractility
- Digoxin increases vagal tone and shortens the refractory period of the myocardium
- This leads to bradycardia and increased automaticity
drug class of digoxin
cardiac glycoside
primary treatment modality for digoxin toxicity
- digoxin-specific antibody fragments (digoxin-Fab)
2. also known as “Digi-bind”
primary means of death in digoxin toxicity
- cardiac manifestations of toxicity
- brady-tachydysrhythmias
- hyperkalemia
- cariogenic shock
most common ECG finding indicating digoxin toxicity
- new onset PVC’s in the setting of a patient taking digoxin
signs of chronic/long term digoxin toxicity
- fatigue
- malaise
- nausea
- dizziness
- visual disturbances such as xanthopsia (yellow haloes)
- chromatopsia (color vision disturbances)
- scotomas (area of partial alteration in the field of vision)
- reduced visual acuity
common clinical syndrome seen in BB + CCB overdose
- refractory hypotension
- bradydysrhythmias (conduction blocks)
- cardiogenic shock
- death
primary clinical distinction between CCB OD and BB OD
- Hyperglycemia is common with CCB overdose (CCB block voltage gated Ca++ channels in pancreatic beta cells that are necessary for insulin release)
- hypoglycemia is common with BB overdose (BBs interfere with glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis)
CCB mechanism
- CCBs block voltage-gated Ca++ channels responsible for excitation of the myocardium and smooth and skeletal muscle