Toxicology-final Flashcards
What are the normals you should assess in an adult pt?
Blood Pressure (90-140/90-50mmHg), Pulse (60-100 beats/min), Respiratory Rate (8-14 breaths/min), Temperature (98-100.4 F)
What drugs cause mydriasis?
Adrenergic agonists
Anticholinergics
What drugs cause miosis?
Sympatholytics
Cholinergics
What hx should you get when assessing a poisoned pt?
Substance ingested, amount ingested, time since ingestion, symptoms, prior therapies, prior medical conditions
What poisons have antidotes?
APAP, carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, digoxin, heavy metals, iron
What qualitative labs are run to assess poisoning?
Urinary Toxicology Screen •Test for presence of toxin in urine •Expressed as present or absent •Many false positives Radiograph for radioopaque compounds
What are management strategies for poisoning?
- Supportive Care
- Prevent Further Absorption
- Enhance Elimination
- Provide Antidote
What is the supportive care?
•Stabilize the Patient
ABC’s, Altered mental status •Monitor for complications as they arise
Assess and treat for shock
What is hypovolemia shock and what is used to tx it?
- Loss of fluid, Decreased CO due to decreased preload
* Fluids, inotropes/vasopressors
What is cardiogenic shock and what can cause it?
Decreased CO due to decreased stroke volume, typically due to a decrease in myocardial contractility
iron, CCB, BB, Cyclic antidepressants
What is distributed shock?
Redistribution of blood from central compartment to peripheral vasculature
How can you prevent further absorption depending on the route?
Inhalation: Fresh air, oxygen
Dermal: Irrigation with water, Removal of contaminated clothing
Ocular: Eye irrigation
Ingestion: Emetic, lavage, activated charcoal, WBI
What is the benefit of GI decontamination?
Evidence shows gastrointestinal decontamination reduces poison bioavailabilty
Also shows NO evidence of improvement in morbidity or mortality
What are the general indications for GI contamination?
Substantial risk of serious toxicity
Recent ingestion
Can be performed safely and will work
No alternative is available
What are general contraindications to GI contamination?
Rapid onset of seizures
Rapid onset of CNS depression
Alkaline corrosives (acids controversial)
Loss of gag reflex
What are the general indications and CI for emesis?
The same at GI contamination
When is emesis typically used in tox?
Typically used in rural settings where there will be a delay of > 1 hour before patient will arrive to ER
What is the emesis used?
Syrup of Ipecac
What is the onset of syrup of ipecac?
15-20 min
What are the side effects of ipecac?
- Acute: Diarrhea, Drowsiness
* Chronic: Cardiac arrhythmias, neuropathy, muscle weakness
What is lavage?
Orogastric retrieval of a substance
What are CI to lavage?
Same as the above ones except….
Can lavage patients with CNS Depression if intubated and cuffed with endotracheal tray.
If seizures are controlled and patient is intubated
DO NOT lavage patients with underlying pathology of esophagus or stomach
What are the ADRs of lavaging?
Aspiration, esophageal/gastric bruising, fluid/electrolyte imbalance, EKG changes, hypoxia, esophageal rupture
What is the dosing for absorbents charcoal?
1gm/kg
What will charcoal not bind to?
Low molecular weight, charged compounds; cyanide, bromide, potassium, ethanol, methanol, iron, lithium, alkaline corrosives, mineral acids
Highly concentrated solutions; gasoline, kerosene, alcohols
What do carthartics do?
Promote movement of AC bound drug through GI tract
May cause hypovolemia and electrolyte imbalance
What are ADRs of activated charcoal?
Vomiting, constipation, aspiration, GI obstruction, charcoal empyema, GI perforation
What is whole bowel irrigation reserved for?
Substances not adsorbed to AC Very large ingestions Significant GI hemorrhage Intestinal obstruction Unprotected airway Hemodynamic instability
What is he endpoint of whole bowel irrigation?
clearing of rectal effluent