Ingestion Flashcards
Pneumonic for altered mental status
A - alcohol/toxin E - epilepsy, encephalitis, endocrine, electrolyes I - infection O - overdose U - uremia T - trauma, temp I - insulin P - psychosis S - stroke, shock, space occupying lesions
Rapid initial eval in AMS
ABCs -> life-threatening causes
finger stick glucose
Hypoglycemia, hypotension, tachycardia
treat by giving a 25% dextrose bolus and NS bolus (20 cc/kg)
- make sure glucose responding to therapy
Cholinergic ingestion
S - salivation L - lacrimation U - urination D - diarrhea G - GI motility E - emesis
Bronchospasm, bradycardia
Anti-cholingeric ingestion
Blind as bat - mydriasis Mad as a hat - delirium/seziure Dry as bone - dry skin Hot as hades - hyperthermia Red as beet - flushed, red skin
Tachycardia, urinary retention, ileus
Sedative, hypnotic ingestion
blurred vision, hypotension, bradycardia, apnea, hypothermia, depressed mental status
Opioids ingestion
miosis, respiratory depression, bradycardia, hypothermia, depressed mental status
Sympathomimetics
mydriasis, fever, diaphoresis, tachycardia, agitation, seizures
DDx for mydriasis and AMS
TCA - anticholinergic (tachycardia, hypotension, mydriasis, hot skin)
SSRI - serotonin syndrome (diaphoresis, tachycardia, hypotension, agitation, fever, myoclonus, shivering)
Antihistamine - anticholinergic like TCA
Decongestant - sympathomimetic syndrome (agitation, tachycardia, hypertension, sweating, mydriasis, seizure)
TCA toxicity
- inhibits reuptake of NE and 5HT
- antagonism of muscarinic ACh receptors
- blockade of sodium and GABA receptors
- refractory hypotension common cause of death
Iron toxicity
- N/V, abdominal pain diarrhea
- lethargy, tachycardia, metabolic acidosis
- Shock
- Hepatic failure
Acetaminophen toxicity
- Asymptomatic or N/V, diaphoresis, malaise
- Hepatotoxicity (LFTs elevated)
- Hepatic failure = death
Labs for possible ingestion
- Glucose
- CBC
- Electrolytes
- Calcium
- EKG
- Tox screen
- Acetaminophen level
Decontamination of ingestion
- Considerations: timing, nature of substance ingested, patient characteristics
- Therapy: ipecac syrup, activated charcoal, gastric lavage, cathartics, hemodialysis, hemoperfusion
Activated charcoal
not for small molecules or heavy metals
Used for TCAs or decreased GI motility ingestions