EM Flashcards
These 3 methods are ALWAYS wrong for ingestion overdose?
1) Ipecac
2) Forced diuretics
3) Cathartics (sorbitol)
What are 2 common presentations of altered mental status of unknown etiology in the ER? What is best initial treatment?
Opioid OD
Hypoglycemia
Tx: naltrexone & glucose
Do you need to give flumazenil to benzo overdose?
NO - this OD is NOT fatal and acute withdrawal can cause seizures!
What is always given to someone with a pill overdose?
Charcoal
When you don’t know what to do in toxicology = give charcoal
What is toxic dose of acetaminophen?
8-10g
If a clearly toxic amt of acetaminophen is ingested (8-10g), what is best initial treatment?
N-acetylcysteine
If acetaminophen has been OVER 24 hours, what is best initial therapy?
NOTHING
If amt of acetaminophen ingestion is unclear, what is next step?
Get a drug level
Can you use charcoal with N-acetylcysteine?
YES
What 3 findings are seen with aspirin overdose?
1) Tinnitis
2) Respiratory alkalosis (compensation for increased acid level)
3) Metabolic acidosis (aspirin blocks oxidative phosphorylation and results in increased anaerobic respiration = increased lactate = AG metabolic acidosis)
Treatment for aspirin overdose?
Alkalinize the urine –> increases rate of aspirin excretion
What are the 2 most severe finding in TCA overdose?
Seizures
QT prolongation –> leading to arrhythmia
What other effects of TCA overdose can be seen?
Anti-ACh side effects –> dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention
Treatment of TCA overdose?
What is it’s MOA?
NaHCO3
TCA normally (-) fast Na channels in His-Purkinje system and myocardium. This causes the QRS prolongation and arrhythmias.
**NaHCO3 protects the heart by decreasing drug avidity for Na channels on the heart –> elevated Na concentration now increases the electrochemical gradient across cardiac cells and affects the ability of TCA to bind to fast Na channels
In caustic ingestions what are you NEVER supposed to give?
Acids or alkali to try and reverse what was initially ingested –> this will only cause extra damage from exothermic reaction
What damage is caused by caustic ingestions?
Mechanical damage to oropharynx, esophagus, stomach
*Look for perforation
Treatment for caustic exposure?
Flush out fluids w/ excess water
What scenarios should suggest CO poisoning?
Gas heater
Wood burning stove
Automobile exhaust
CO effect on RBCs?
CO binds O2 to Hg so tightly that carboxyhemoglobin will NOT release O2 to tissues –> acts functionally like anemia
Patient presentation w/ CO poisoning or methemoglobinemia?
Dyspnea
Lightheadedness
Confusion