CHAPTER 450 POISONING AND DRUG OVERSE Flashcards
it refers to the development of dose-related adverse effects following exposure to chemicals, drugs, and other xenobiotics
poisoning
age prone to poisioning
<6 years old
major reason for increased number of poisoning deaths
opoids
unintentional exposures include
improper use of chemicals at work or play label misleading product mislabel mistaken identification unlabeled chemicals uninformed self medication dosing errors elderly
most common reported reason for intentional poisoning
recreational use of ethanol
pharmaceutical agent most often implicated in fatal poisoning
acetaminophen
leading cause of death from poisoning
carbon monoxide
correct diagnosis established by
history, physical examination, routine and toxicologic laboratory evaluations and clinical course
history includes:
time route duration circumstances the name and dose chemical involved the time of onset nature and severity of symptoms time and type of first aid used medical and psychiatry history
if the px is confused or comatose suspect?
history of psychiatry problems
recent changes of economic and relationship status
work with chemicals
what is body packing or body stuffing
ingesting or concealing drugs in the body cavity
relevant information may be available from
family friends paramedics police pharmacist physicians employers
it focuses the vital signs, and the systems
physical examination
neurologic status includes the:
documentation of the neuromuscular abnormalities such as dyskinesia, dystonia, fasciculations, myoclonus, rigidity and tremors
examine the eye for:
nystagmus and pupil size and reactviity
examine the abdomen for:
bowel activity and bladder size
examine the skin for:
burns bullae color warmth moisture pressure sores puncture marks
what to do when history is unclear?
examine all the orifices for the presence of chemical burns, and drug packets
it also provide important diagnostic clues
odor of breath
vomitus
color of the nails and skin and urine
how to diagnose a poisoning in cases of unknown etiology
relies on pattern recognition
how to detect pattern recognition to diagnose poisoning in unknown etiology
first: assess the pulse, blood pressure and respiratory rate and temperature and neurologic status and characterized the overall physiologic state as stimulated, depressed, discordant or normal
second: identify the pathophysiologic patterns or toxic syndrome (toxidrome)
third: identify the particular agent involved by looking at the unique poison specific physical or ancillary test abnormalities
most reliable prognosticator of poor outcome in poisoning from stimulants
temperature elevation
what are the 4 physiologic state
stimulated
depressed
discordant
normal
stimulated physiologic state is characterized by
increased pulse, bp rr, temp and neuromuscular activity
stimulated physiologic state reflects the
symphathetic, anticholinergic or hallucinogen poisoning or drug withdrawal
feature of all stimulants and is most marked in anticholinergic poisoning since the pupillary reactivity relies on muscarinic control
mydriasis
anticholinergic syndrome is characterized by:
hot dry flushed skin
decreased bowel sounds
urinary retention
other: diaphoresis, pallor and increased bowel activity with nausea, diarrhea
findings that suggest sympathetic poisoning
increased vital signs and organ ischemia
selective alpha adrenergic stimulants such as decongestants can cause
reflex bradycardia
selective beta-adrenergic stimulants such as asthma therapeutics can cause
hypotension
ergot alkaloids can cause
limb ischemia
phencylidine and ketamide can cause
rotatory nystagmus
cocaine can cause
delayed cardiac contraction
what do seizures suggest
sympathetic etiology
state characterized by mixed vital signs and neuromuscular abnormalities
discordant physiologic state
cause of depressed physiological state
functional sympatholytics (agents that decrease cardiac function and vascular tone)
cholinergic such as muscarinic and nicotinic agents
opiods
sedatives
feature that is most pronounced in opiods and cholinergic poisoning
miosis
other clues that may suggest physiologic depressed state
cardiac arrhythmias conduction disturbances mydriasis nystagmus seizures
what can cause arythmias and conduction disturbances
antiarrhythmias calcium channel blocker digitalis glycosides propoxyphene cyclic antidepressants
what can cause mydriasis
tricyclic antidepressants and some antiarrhymics, meperidine and diphenocylate atropine such as lomotil
what can cause nystagmus
sedative hypotics
what can cause seizures
cholinergic agents
propoxyophene
cyclic depressants
physiologic state characterized by decreased pulse, bp, rr, and temp and neuromuscular activity
depressed physiologic state
cause of normal physiologic state
non-toxic exposure
psychogenic illness
poisoning of toxic time bombs that are slowly absorbed and slowly distributed and require metabolic activation
laboratory result most common in advanced methanol, ethylene glycol and salicyate intoxication
increased anion gap metabolic acidosis
what happens when there is increased blood levels of bromide, calcium, iodide, lithium or magnesium
abnormally low anion gap
a difference of >10 mmol per liter between serum osmality suggests the presence of low molecular weight solute such as acetone, alcohol , glycol, and ether, or sugar
a difference of >10
ketosis suggest of
acetone, iso alcohol, salicylate poisoning or alcoholic ketoacidosis
hypokalcemia suggest of
beta-adrenergic blocker, caffeine, diuretics, theophylline, toleune
hyperkalcemia suggest of
poisoning of alpha adrenergic agonist
beta adrenergic blocker
cardiac glycosides
fluoride
hypocalcemia suggest of
ethylene glycol
fluoride
oxalate poisoning
result of ECG in px poisoned with alpha adrenergic agonist, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and cholinergic agents
bradycardia and atrioventricular block
QRS and QT interval prolongation is caused by
hyperkalemia
antidepressants
membrane active drugs
ventricular tacycardia suggests
poisoning with cardiac glycosides
fluorides
membrane active drugs
radiologic result in px with posoining of carbon monoxide, cyanide and opiods
pulmonary edema
aspiration pneumonia is common in px with
coma
seizures
petroleum distillate aspiration
what can be used to rule out and confirm suspected poisoning
toxicologic analysis
what can be used to rule out and confirm suspected poisoning
toxicologic analysis
screening test that should not be used because it cannot confirm the exact identity of the detected substance
rapid qualitative hospital-based urine test
useful for diagnostic purposes
response to antidotes
resolution of altered mental status and abnormal vital signs within minutes of IV administration of dextrose, naloxone, or flumazenil is diagnostic of
hypoglycemia
opoid poisoning
benzodiazepine intoxication
grade of physiologic stimulation that is anxious, irritable but the vital signs are normal with diaphoresis with flushing and pallor, mydriasis and hyperflexia sometimes present
grade 1 physiologic stimulation
grade of physiologic stimulation that is agitated may have confusion or hallucinations but can converse and follow commands but the vital signs are mild to moderately increased
grade 2 physiologic stimulation
Grade of physiologic stimulation that is delirious, unintelligible speech, uncontrollable motor hyper-activity moderately increased vital signs and tachyarrhythmias are possible
grade 3 f physiologic stimulation
grade of physiologic stimulation that is in coma, seizures and in cardiovascular collapse
grade 4 physiological stage stimulation
grade of depressed if the px is awake, lethargic or sleeping but arousable by voice or tactile stimulation and able to converse and follow commands but may be confused
Grade 1 physiologic depression
grade of physiologic depression if the px responds to pain but not to voice can vocalize but not converse with the spontaneous motor activity present with brainstem reflexes intact
grade 2 physiologic depression
grade of physiologic depression that is unresponsive to pain, spontaneous motor activity absent with brainstem reflexes depressed, motor tone, respirations and temperature decreased
grade 3 physiologic depression
grade of physiologic depression that is unresponsive to pain, flaccid paralysis, brainstem reflexes and respirations absent with cardiovascular vital signs decreased
grade 4 physiologic depression
what are the treatment goals for poisoning and drug overdose
support of vital signs prevention of further poisoning absorption enhancement of poison elimination administration of specific antidotes prevention of re-exposure
what is the highest priority in the pre-toxic phase?
decontamination and treatment are solely based on history and pe