EM Flashcards
Unidentified pills ingested within 1hr w/ no changing MS, next best step
Gastric lavage
When is gastric lavage dangerous
Altered MS
Caustic injestion
Acetaminophen OD
How much does gastric lavage remove
50% at 1 hr
15% at 2hrs
What is always the wrong answer w/ response to poisoning
Ipecac
Cathartics
Forced diuresis
Whole bowel irrigation
Cause of OD is unclear
Acetaminophen
Aspirin
MCC death by OD
Acetaminophen
Aspirin
Best initial management of OD >1hr w/ Altered MS
Naloxone
Dextrose
Thiamine
Is benzo OD fatal
No, but acute withdrawal causes seizures
When is charcoal given
Anyone w/ pill OD
How much acetaminophen is toxic
8-10 grams
How much acetaminophen is fatal
12-15 grams
Lab changes in acetaminophen OD
Elevated AST, Bili
Abd pain and vomitting
Clearly toxic amount of acetaminophen ingested, next best step
NAC
Acetaminophen OD >24hrs, what now
Nothing
Can’t tell how much acetaminophen was ingested
Get level
Charcoal in acetaminophen OD
Give it w/ NAC even if vomitting
Features of Aspirin OD
Resp alk → Tinnitus
Metab acid → Hyperventilation
Renal tox and altered MS
Increased anion gap
How does aspirin OD affect lungs
ARDS
Rx aspirin OD
Alkalinize urine w/ bicarb
ABG in aspirin OD
↓ pCO2
↓ HCO3
↑ pH
Fatal consequences of TCA OD
Seizures
Arrhythmias
What can prevent seizures in TCA OD
Benzos
Best initial test in TCA OD
EKG
What is seen on EKG in TCA OD
Wide QRS
Main sx in TCA OD
Dry mouth
Constipation
Urinary retention
Rx TCA OD
Na bicarb
MCC death in fires
CO poisoning
Only way to rx caustic ingestion
Water in high volumes to flush out
Endoscopy to assess degree of damage
Hx clues for CO poisoning
Gas heaters, wood burning stoves
Automobile exhaust
Presentation of CO poisoning
Dyspnea, lightheadedness, confusion, seizures
How does CO poisoning kill you
MI
ABG picture in CO poisoning
May be normal
Lactic acidosis
- Low bicarb
- Low pH
Most accurate test for CO poisoning
Carboxyhemoglobin level
Soot around mouth and nose but not inside
Don’t intubate
Burns inside mouth
Intubate
4mL NS per % body surface affected
Best initial therapy for CO poisoning
Give 100% O2
Hyperbaric O2 if severe
What is severe CO poisoning
CNS sx
Cardiac sx
Metabolic acidosis
MCC death from burns
Infection
What is methemoglobinemia
Hb locked in ferric state
Brown, will not carry O2
What can cause methemoglobinemia
Benzocaine and other anesthetics
Nitrites and nitroglycerin
Dapsone
Sx methemoglobinemia
Dyspnea and cyanosis
HA, confusion, seizures (altered MS)
Metab acid
Most accurate test for methemoglobinemia
Methemoglomin level
Best initial therapy for methemoglobinemia
100% O2
Most effective therapy for methemoglobinemia
Methylene blue
What predisposes digoxin toxicity
Hypokalemia
MC presentation of digoxin toxicity
GI issues (N/V)
Other sx of digoxin tox
Hyperkalemia Confusion Visual disturbance Rhythm disturbance Gynecomastia (rare)
What else causes hyperkalemia
ACEIs, ARBs, BBs, Spironolactone
Most accurate test for digoxin toxicity
Digoxin levels
Best initial test for digoxin tox
K level and EKG
EKG finding in dig tox
Downsloping ST
Most common arrhythmia in dig tox
Atrial tachy w/ variable AV block
Rx Dig tox
Control K
Digoxin Ab
Strongest indication for digoxin Ab
CNS and cardiac involvement
Presentation of organophosphate/nerve gas poisoning
Salivation Lacrimation Polyuria Diarrhea Bronchospasm (resp arrest if severe)
Rx organophosphate/nerve gas poisoning
Atropine immediately
Presentation of Pb poisoning
Abd pain ATN Sideroblastic anemia Wrist drop Memory loss, confusion
Best initial test for Pb poisoning
Increased free erythrocyte protoporphyrin
Most accurate test for Pb poisoning
Lead level
Most accurate test for sideroblastic anemia
Prussian blue stain
Rx Pb poisoning
Succimer (oral)
EDTA, Dimercaprol (IV)
Sx in Mercury poisoning
Oral - CNS
Inhaled - Lung fibrosis
Specific CNS sx in mercury poisoning
Nervous, jittery, twitchy, hallucinatory
Can lung damage in mercury poisoning be reversed
No
Rx Mercury poisoning
Dimercaprol, Succimer
Effects of methanol and ethylene glycol poisoning
Intoxication
Metabolic acidosis
Increased anion gap
Rx methanol and ethylene glycol poisoning
Fomepizole
Dialysis
Source of methanol poisoning
Wood alcohol
Cleaning solutions
Paint thinner
Source of ethylene glycol poisoning
Antifreeze
Metabolite in methanol poisoning
Formic acid/ Formaldehyde
Metabolite in ethylene glycol poisoning
Oxalic acid/ Oxalate
Presentation of methanol poisoning
Ocular toxicity