Emergency Medicine Flashcards
describe treatment of anticholinergic overdose
consider charcoal if conscious
if hypotension
- fluids
- glucagon
- noradrenaline
give sodium bicarbonate if
- acidosis
- QRS >120 ms
- hypotension unresponsive to fluids
- ventricular arrhythmias
intralipid
Describe anticholinergic toxidrome
“Blind as a bat, dry as a bone, red as a beet, hot as a desert”
- flushing
- dry skin and membranes
- mydriasis and loss of accommodation
- clonus
- confusion
- hyperthermia
- tachycardia
- absent bowel sounds
- urinary retention
- constipation
e.g. tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs like amitriptyline), antipsychotics, antihistamines
> metabolic acidosis
> convulsions
> hypotension with dysrhythmia (mostly tachycardia)
> airway loss if obtunded
describe a cholinergic toxidrome
muscarinic symptoms: SLUDGE
- salivation
- lacrimation
- urination (increased)
- defecation (diarrhoea)
- GI cramping
- emesis (vomiting)
nicotinic symptoms: MTWTF
- muscle cramps
- tachycardia (or bradycardia in muscarinic)
- weakness
- twitching
- fasciculations (check tongue)
other symptoms
- miosis
- sweating
- seizure risk
- bronchorroea
- bronchospasm
most common cause - organophosphate insecticides, pesticides
also donepizole and overdose of agents used in myasthenia gravis e.g. pyridostigmine
also novichok nerve agents
antidote - atropine, pralidoxime
describe sympathomimetic toxicity
- airway compromise less common unless rigid
- tachypnoea
- hypertension and tachyarrhythmias
- mydriasis, seizure, psychosis
- hyperthermia
causes: cocaine, MDMA, significant caffeine, amphetamines, theophylline excess in asthmatics
remember to monitor CK and myoglobin
> early ECG if chest pain, cocaine can lead to ACS due to coronary vasospasm
management
- charcoal if theophylline poisoning only
- benzodiazepines e.g. diazepam if agitation/confusion
- avoid beta blockers
- cool by any means possible then IV dantrolene
- sometimes sodium nitroprusside for hypertension
describe sympathomimetic serotonergic crisis / baclofen withdrawal
also caffeine, theophylline, SSRIs/SNRIs, GHB, MDMA
- rigid jaw and airway compromise
- tachycardia, hypertension, tachypnoea
- cardiovascular collapse
- acidosis
- hypertonicity with clonus
- confused and agitated before coma
- refractory hypoglycaemia
- seizures
- rhabdomyolysis with K>10
- malignant hyperthermia
management
- intubation (without fentanyl)
- large amounts of benzodiazepines
- aggressive cooling
- cyproheptadine orally or NG
- chlorpromazine IM
describe opioid toxicity
- airway compromise
- hypoventilation and hypoxia
- hypotension and bradycardia
- reduced GCS and pinpoint pupils
- hypothermia
management
- naloxone (half-life 30 or 45 mins)
> naloxone infusion if modified release like MST
- supportive care
describe sedative / hypnotic toxicity
e.g. alcohol, benzodiazepines
- airway loss if obtunded
- respiratory compromise
- cold
- hypotension, bradycardia
- mydriasis
- dizzy, dysarthric, drowsy and ataxic
management
- watch for withdrawal (seizures)
- supportive treatment
- flumazenil only rarely
describe a paracetamol overdose
presentation
- early: nausea and vomiting
- late (3-4 days):
> nausea and vomiting
> hepatic necrosis
> hypoglycaemia
> cerebral oedema
> encephalopathy, coma, death
if plasma level >700 mg/L (rare) - different presentation
> sedation
> coma
> high lactate
reliable sign of liver damage: prolonged PT
prognostic factor: arterial blood gas pH
list adverse effects of N-acetylcysteine
- nausea
- urticaria
- erythema
- bronchospasm
- angioedema
- anaphylactoid reaction
describe beta blocker overdose
- bradycardia
- hypotension
- prolonged QTc
- cardiogenic shock: VF/VT
- coma
- seizures
- propranolol: bronchospasm
management
- activated charcoal if <1h
- 8.4% sodium bicarbonate
- atropine
- IV glucagon
- consider inotropes
- intralipid if propranolol
- ECMO
cardiac pacing ineffective
describe calcium channel blocker overdose
- sinus bradycardia
- hypotension
- prolonged QTc
- high K, low glucose
- cardiogenic shock: VF/VT
Management
- activated charcoal if <1h from ingestion
- calcium chloride
- insulin (aim for hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemia)
- 8.4% sodium bicarbonate
- intralipid
- inotropes
- ECMO
describe digoxin toxicity
- QTc prolongation
- bradycardia
- “reverse tick” on ECG
- metabolic acidosis
- hyperkalaemia
- nausea, vomiting
- confusion
management
- stop digoxin
- charcoal
- sodium bicarbonate
- insulin/dextrose for hyperkalaemia
- atropine
- give digibind if plasma level > 10 nmol/L
- cardiac pacing
- ECMO
describe iron toxicity
- nausea, vomiting
- abdominal pain
- diarrhoea
- haematemesis
- acidosis
- potential for late deterioration with hepatic necrosis
- worse in children
treatment
- gastric lavage
- endoscopy
- desferrioxamine
- dialysis
describe cannabinoid hyperemesis
- cyclical vomiting
- relieved by hot water over 41 degrees
- standard antiemetics may not work
- management
> capsaicin cream
> haloperidol
describe the RUSH protocol and HI-MAP approach
RUSH protocol
- pump: LV contractility, RV strain, tamponade
- tank: IVC variation, leaks, tank compromise
- pipe: aortic dissection, aneurysms, DVT
HI-MAP approach
- heart
- IVC
- Morrison’s pouch and E-fast
- aorta and deep veins
- pneumothorax, PLE, PN, pulmonary oedema
List causes of coma
AEIOU TIPS
- acidosis / alcohol
- epilepsy
- infection
- overdose
- uraemia
- trauma to the head
- insulin (hypoglycaemia)
- psychosis
- stroke
list causes of delirium
PINCH ME
P - pain
I - infection
N - nutrition
C - constipation
H - hydration
M - medication (new, changes, AKI?)
E - environment, everything else
> glasses, hearing aids, change of location
describe the pharmacological treatment of delirium
if all other measures have failed
- haloperidol (avoid in Parkinson’s / LBD / prolonged QTc)
- lorazepam
- avoid olanzapine or risperidone (increased risk of stroke and death)
what is the triangle of safety for ICD insertion?
- lateral edge of pectoralis major
- base of axilla
- lateral edge latissimus dorsi
- 5th intercostal space
what is the modified Parkland’s formula for calculation of fluids in burns patients
> 15% BSA in adults
BSA x weight (kg) x 4ml (fluid in 24h)
give first half of fluids (Hartmann’s) in first 8h
next half of fluids in next 16h
list the branches of the facial nerve
ten zebras bit my cock
- temporal
- zygomatic
- buccal
- mandibular
- cervical