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The most common and the most dangerous ingestions

A comprehensive guide by Dr. Russell E. Berger on common and dangerous ingestions, including toxidromes, EKG guidance, and key agents. Learn to recognize symptoms, vital signs, and skin findings for different toxic syndromes. Explore treatments, including NAC for Tylenol overdose and Narcan for opiates.

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The most common and the most dangerous ingestions

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  1. Russell E. Berger, MD Co-Director of Medical Toxicology Emergency Physician Cambridge Health Alliance Instructor in Medicine Harvard Medical School The most common and the most dangerous ingestions

  2. Brief Outline -Toxidromes -The “Tox” EKG -Guidance on some of the most common ingestions -Agents of Concern -Agents of little or no concern -Q &A

  3. Toxidromes • A way that we can group symptoms together which helps us formulate a treatment plan. Vital Signs Mental Status Pupils Skin Findings Neurologic Exam

  4. Opiate Toxidrome • Vitals signs: Down -low heart rate, low blood pressure • Mental Status: Down (asleep) • Pupils: Down(small) • Skin Finding: -Needle tracks, usually cool and dry

  5. Sympathomimetic • Vital signs: up: -high heart rate, hypertensive • Mental Status: up -agitated-VIOLENT • Pupils(up) • Skin findings(sweaty)

  6. Anticholinergic • Vital Signs: Up • Mental Status: -Agitated, DELIRIOUS • Pupils: Up • Skin: DRY

  7. Serotonergic • AMS • Hyper-reflexia (clonus is most important feature. • Dysautonomia(Vital sign abnormalities, usually activated)

  8. Sympathomimetic versus Anticholinergic Freddy Kruger Versus The Cookie Monster

  9. Tox EKG • QRS duration • QTC duration • Terminal R in aVR

  10. If you block Sodium channels… • You prolong the QRS complex • >100ms is significant • Just read from the top of the cardiogram

  11. If you block Potassium Channels… • You prolong the QTC • >450ms is significant • Just go by what’s reported on the top of the cardiogram

  12. Some Na Channel Blockers besides TCA’s • Carbamazepine • Benadryl • Flecainide, Procainamide • Chloroquine • Propranolol • Quinine • Bupivicaine

  13. Some QTC prolonging Agents • Seroquel • Zofran • Methadone • Trazodone • Citalopram • Erythromycin

  14. DRUGS

  15. Tylenol • It is in everything. • It produces early symptoms that are easy to overlook. • Have a low threshold to test for it and a low threshold to treat in overdose.

  16. Tylenol We have NAC to treat this overdose. The dosing of NAC is very confusing for people so needs to be checked carefully for accuracy. NAC may produce a scary appearing reaction during loading. Still give it!

  17. Opiates One of the most worrisome emerging epidemics. RESPIRATORY RATE is the most important reason to give Narcan. Remember Narcan has a short half life compared with the agents it is reversing. Observe, Observe, Admit, Observe.

  18. Give Narcan sparingly to avoid precipitating patient distress. • Don’t forget to check a tylenol level. • Detectable tylenol levels should = NAC treatment and admission (in the setting of combined opiate preps, egpercocet)

  19. Aspirin • One of the most dangerous agents we see. • 30, 60, 90 rule; chronic levels are worse than acute levels so get treated earlier. • Single levels are not adequate to medically clear a patient

  20. Aspirin Any change in mental status = dialysis Seizures = death If you are at a facility without reliable renal coverage, push to transfer the patient.

  21. Carbon Monoxide Exposures • Flu like symptoms • Is the dog sick or not? • Duration of exposure is as important as level • While level is cooking, NRB based 100% oxygen.

  22. Carbon Monoxide • If your patient is pregnant, worry about them. • Patients will have a functional anemia. • Chest pain • SOB • Dizziness • Headache. • If in doubt, talk to a dive chamber for guidance.

  23. Lithium • Check the level. • Is the level post-distribution---was the blood drawn >6 hours after the last dose of medication. If yes, it is reliable. If not, it may not be reliable. • Is the patient neurotoxic? Can they walk?

  24. Substantial alteration in mental status is always a reason to dialyze (esp with co-ingestants). • Early dialysis is associated with better patient outcomes. Level is NOT everything. • Give sodium to trick the kidneys into eliminating lithium as early as you can.

  25. Benadryl • In everything • Patient can get SUPER sick • Don’t forget your NAC (egtylenol PM). • May act like a TCA overdose

  26. Benadryl • Patient will be dry, delirious, and tachycardic. • They may have prolongation of their QRS complex on EKG. • They may seize and develop ventricular dysrhythmias.

  27. Sympathomimetic Agents • Cocaine • LSD • Ecstacy • Bath Salts • PCP • Ketamine

  28. Crazy and aggressive. • Wide eyed and pouring sweat • Control with benzodiazepines/Avoid Haldol. • Keep the patient cool. Intubate and paralyze PRN.

  29. Clonidine • Very common in both pediatric and adult populations(ADHD or withdrawal) • Sedation • Produces hypotension, bradycardia with normal potassium and glucose. • Looks like opiate---pinpoint pupils---may respond to narcan

  30. Digoxin • Hypotension, bradycardia, hyperkalemia. • More common in the elderly or in cardiac kids. • Can reverse with digibind. • Labs for digoxin will be off when you check the level again. Don’t freak out about this---go by the clinical picture.

  31. Digoxin • Consider treating the potassium itself • Avoid calcium (for now) • Concentration x Wt in Kg/100 gives you reversal dose of digibind (round up) • Pt is 80 kg, dig level is 4.0. [80]x[4]/100 = 3.2 • Give 4 vials

  32. Calcium Channel Blockers Hypotension, bradycardia, HYPERglycermia The worst of the worst ingestions High Dose insulin therapy Intralipid ECMO/Intra-aortic balloon pump.

  33. Seroquel • “I take seroquel for sleep.” • Ataxia • Prolongation of the QT. • May need to be tubed 2/2 decreased mental status.

  34. Sleeping Pills • Ambien • Lyrica • Gabapentin • Lunesta A lot of worry Little true concern

  35. Agents to not worry about • Motrin(unless > 400mg/kg) • Most Antibiotics • SSRI’s • Thyroid Hormone • Laxatives • Most diuretics • Ace inhibitors • ARBS • Vitamins(except prenatals) • Sleep aids • Benzodiazepines

  36. Household Items(bedroom and bathroom) • I don’t care: • Makeup • Household bleach • Dish soap • Bath soap • Dish detergent (Pods are different) • Shampoo • Rat poison • Raid • Vitamins

  37. Household items(garage) • Emergency: -Gasoline/Kerosone -Oil of wintergreen(salicylate) -Antifreeze(EG) -De-icer(Methanol) -Button Batteries -Wheel Cleaners(HF) -Essential Oils(citronella)

  38. Admit these kids • Oral sulfonylureas(glipizide, glimeperide, etc) • Long acting opiates, suboxone and methadone • TCA’s • Calcium Channel Blockers • Most beta blockers • MAOi exposures • Wellbutrin

  39. Specific Agents: • Questions • Contact: rberger@challiance.org

  40. Thank you

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