Management Of Poisoned Patient Flashcards
What is the golden rule for poison management
Treat the patient not the poison
First stabilize the patient and treat the symptoms
Secondly worry about the poison
Many poisons acts as ?
CNS depressants
Common sx of poison that needs to be treated as CNS depressant
Coma
Loss of airway protective reflexes and respiratory drive
Flaccid tongue
Aspiration of gastric content
Respiratory arrest
Other poison sx that can lead to death
Cardiovascular toxicity
Cellular hypoxia
Seizures
Delayed symptoms
Sx of cardiovascular toxicity
Hypotension from depressed cardiac contractility
Hypovolemia from vomiting, diarrhea or fluid sequestration
Peripheral vascular collapse caused by blockage of alpha adrenergics
Cardiac arrhythmia
Signs of lethal arrhythmia
Ventricular tachycardia
What drugs can cause lethal arrhythmia
Ephedrine
Amphetamines
Cocaine
Digitalis
Theophylline
TCA
Antihistamine
Some opioids
What agents can induce hypoxia
Cyanide
H2S
CO
Signs of cellular hypoxia
Cyanosis
Tachycardia
Hypotension
Severe lactic acidosis
What is the initial management of poisoned patients
Treat and stabilize patient
Address coma or seizures
What are the ABCD of supportive measures
Airway
Breathing
Circulation
Dextrose for decreased mental status
How is airway addressed
Cleared of vomit or obstacles
- Insert endotracheal tube if needed
- May need to lay patient on side
- Move flaccid tongue out of airway
How is breathing addressed
Observe and assess oximetry (pulse)
- When in doubt measure arterial blood gas if you have time
- Patients with respiratory insufficiency should be intubated and mechanically ventilated
How is circulation addressed
Continuous monitoring of pulse rate and blood pressure
- Urinary output
- Evaluation of peripheral perfusion
- Use of IV if needed
- Blood drawn for serum glucose and other factors
How is dextrose used as initial management
Use with patients with altered mental status
- Don’t use if you know patient is not hypoglycemic
- Rapid bedside test (treat patient first)
What is the dose of dextrose for adult and children
Adult = 25 g (50 ml 50% dextrose) with IV for adults
Children = 0.5 g/kg (2 mL/kg 25% dextrose)
What is the ER Assessment: Oral Statement
- Amount of drug
- Type of drug
- “House” everybody lies
What is ER assessment: Environment
- Talk to family members
- 1st responders (fire department, paramedics)
- What was the house like?
In ER assessment what should you bring to ER
- Syringes
- Empty bottles
- Household products
- OTCs
What is the standard ER assessment to check for vitals
- Pulse
- Heart rate
- Blood pressure
- Temperature
What other part of the body can be assessed for vital signs during ER assessment
- Eyes
- Reactive
- Dual reaction
- Mouth
- Skin
- Abdomen
- CNS
What medication can induce hypertension or tachycardia
Amphetamines
Cocaine
Anti-muscarinic
What medication can induce hypotension or bradycardia
Calcium channel blockers
Beta-blockers
Clonidine
Sedative hypnotics
What medication can induce hypotension or tachycardia
TCAs
Trazadone
Quetiapine
Vasodilator
Beta agonist
During eye assessment what drugs can induce mitosis- constriction
- Opioids
- Clonidine
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
- Sedatives (coma)
During eye assessment what can drugs can cause mydriasis-dilation
- Amphetamines
- Cocaine
- LSD
- Atropine
- Anticholinergic drugs
During eye assessment what drugs can cause horizontal nystagmus
- Phenytoin
- Alcohol
- Barbiturates
- Sedatives
During eye assessment what drugs can cause both vertical and horizontal nystagmus
Phenycyclidine (PCP)
During ER assessment what signs of nervous system should be assessed
- Focal seizures/motor deficits
- Nystagmus, dysarthria (motor speech problem), ataxia
- Twitching/muscular hyperactivity
- Muscular rigidity
- Seizures
- Flaccid coma with no reflexes
How can electrolytes be used during ER assessment
Calculate ion gap
What is the anion gap
Cations - anions
Cations are usually greater by 12-16 mEq
What drugs can induce anion gap
Aspirin
Methanol
Ethylene glycol
Isoniazid
Iron
How does TCA overdose impact EKG
Widening QRS complex by > 100 msec
What drugs impact EKG by prolonging QTc interval by > 400 msec
Quinidine
New antidepressant
New antipsychotic
Lithium
Arsenic
Which drugs impact EKG through variable AV block
Digoxin
Cardiac glycosides
CO
What is the reality of toxicology screening
Time consuming
Expensive
Unreliable
Not all drugs can be included in screen
Results may take days
Which drugs might not be included in screenings
Beta blocker
Calcium channel blockers
Isoniazid
True or False: Every existing poison has an antidote
False
How is skin decontamination done as an antidote
Remove contaminated clothing and double bag to prevent exposure
What GI approaches are performed as antidote decontamination for GI
Emesis
Gastric lavage
Activated Charcoal
Cathartics
When is GI emptying as an antidote method more effective
Within 1 hour of ingestion
How does activated charcoal work as an antidote
Absorbs poison
What can be used for emesis
Ipecac syrup not extract
When should ipecac Symptoms not used
If toxicants is corrosive, petroleum based or rapid acting convulsant
Should salt water or finger used to induce emesis
No
How can gastric aspiration induced mechanically
Use nasogastric or orogastric tube to remove stomach content
Requires anesthesia and stomach pumping
Use 0.9% saline at body temperature
What is the MOA of activated charcoal
Adsorb many drugs and poison due to large surface area
How is activated charcoal dosed compared to the weight of toxicant
Charcoal: toxicant weight (10:1)
What is the dosage form of activated charcoal
Tablets or powders
Which toxins does charcoal not bind to
Iron
Lithium
Potassium
Which toxins does charcoal bind poorly to
Alcohol
Cyanide
What can repeated doses of activated charcoal do
Enhance systemic elimination of drugs (i.e gut dialysis)
What is another name of Cathartics
Laxatives
What is the mechanism of action Cathartics
May hasten removal of toxins from GI and alter absorption
What are the products are used as Cathartics
Rushpills
Polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution
What procedure can Cathartics be used prior
Colonoscopy
Which toxin does cathartics increase its guts elimination
Iron
What is the two prone approach to designing specific antidotes
Pharmacokinetic
Pharmacodynamic
How does the pharmacokinetic work
Prevent absorption and distribution
Enhance elimination
How does pharmacodynamic work
Pharmacological
Interfere with the binding to target
Antagonistic
What are the non-specific antidotes
Dialysis
Hemodialysis
Forced diuresis and urinary pH manipulation
Renal elimination
Dialysis: peritoneal dialysis
Simple but ineffective and works into the abdominal cavity
What are the benefits of hemodialysis
Assist in fluid correction and electrolyte balances
Enhance removal of toxic metabolite
Efficiency of hemodialysis is dependent on what factor
Molecular weight
Water solubility
Protein binding endogenous clearance
Tissue distribution
Can toxin be eliminated by hemodialysis if it is not in the blood
No
Why has forced diuresis and urinary pH manipulation lost favor
It can cause volume overload and electrolyte imbalance
How does renal elimination work
Can increase by adjusting urinary ph
Salicylate are eliminate by urinary alkalization
Can increase rhabdomylosis
What is rhabdomylosis
Damaged skeletal muscle break down quickly and enters the bloodstream and proteins cause damage to the kidney and cause renal failure
What can cause rhabdomylosis
Seizure
Muscle rigidity
Crush injury