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Toxicology Review. Christian La Rivière, MD, FRCPC. Outline. Overview Toxicologic history and physical exam Common toxidromes Management of the undifferentiated poisoned patient. Toxicology. the study of chemicals and how they affect humans
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Toxicology Review • Christian La Rivière, MD, FRCPC
Outline • Overview • Toxicologic history and physical exam • Common toxidromes • Management of the undifferentiated poisoned patient
Toxicology • the study of chemicals and how they affect humans • nearly any substance has the ability to be poisonous if taken in great enough quantity
Medications Dangerous to Children in 1 or 2 doses • Beta blockers • Calcium channel blockers • Glyburide • Oil of Wintergreen (methyl salicylate) • TCA • Camphor • Clonidine and the imidazolines • Opioids • Lomotil • Toxic alcohols
Approach to the Poisoned Patient • Supportive care is the cornerstone of treatment of poisoned patients • Your attention to this will do more good for your patient than any other single intervention
Approach (cont’d) • ABC’s-stabilize as needed • Oxygen, monitor, IV, glucose level, narcan? • Hx-what, how much, when? • Px-general exam, toxidromes • Labs-drug levels, drug screen? • Charcoal within 1 hour • Antidote if available
The Toxicology History • Gather information from all sources possible • pill bottles • time of ingestion (good luck!) • amount ingested • types of ingestions/co-ingestions
History (cont’d) • environmental/occupational history • Past Medical History • Past Psychiatric History
Physical Exam • useful at framing the “toxidrome” • Vital Signs: very important in determining severity and type of ingestion
General Appearance • says a lot! • track marks? • smells of ___?
Bitter almonds Cyanide Carrots Water Hemlock EtOH, acetone, isopropyl alc. Fruity Glue Toluene, solvents Shoe polish Nitrobenzine Odors in the Overdose History
Skin, Mucous Membranes • dry mouth or lots of secretions? • skin warm and flushed or diaphoretic? • any rash? • cyanosis?
Neuro Exam • GCS helpful at giving a global assessment of LOC, but can be misleading • always look at the pupils • any evidence of a post-ictal state?
Miosis (small pupils) • opioids • clonidine • PCP • cholinergics (insecticides, certain mushrooms)
Mydriasis (dilated pupils) • sympathomimetics (cocaine, speed, Ectacy, etc.) • anticholinergics • sedative-hypnotic withdrawal (EtOH, benzo withdrawal)
Substances that can cause seizures • Tricyclics • Isoniazid • Cocaine, amphetamines • Salicylates (Aspirin) • Anticholinergics • Organophosphates (insecticides)
Respiratory • crackles and wheezes may indicate organophosphate poisoning! • stridor and immediate respiratory distress may point to a caustic ingestion
Radiology • Radiopaque items • “C” chloral hydrate • “H” heavy metals • “I” iron • “P” phenothiazines • “S” slow release(enteric coated) • X-ray affect TX only in iron O.D.
Toxidrome • a constellation of signs or symptoms that are associated with a toxin • most patients will not exhibit all aspects of the toxidrome • mixed ingestions complicate the picture
Toxidromes • Opioid • Sympathomimetics • Cholinergics • Anticholinergics • Other toxidromes
Opioids • heroin, methadone, prescription meds • CNS depression, respiratory depression, miosis
Other Effects of Opioids • hypotension • bradycardia • hypothermia • non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema
Sympathomimetics • cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA • HTN, tachycardia, dilated pupils, diaphoresis, agitation
Cholinergics • organophosphatepesticides, etc. • remember: “SLUDGE” and the “Killer B’s”
Cholinergics • Salivation • Lacrimation • Urination • Defecation • Gastrointestinal upset (nausea, abdo pain) • Emesis
Cholinergics • The “Killer B’s” • Bradycardia • Bronchorrhea • Bronchospasm
Anticholinergics • tricyclics, dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine, muscle relaxants
Anticholinergics • hot as hell • dry as a bone • mad as a hatter • red as a beet • blind as a bat
Ipecac • There are really no indications for the use of ipecac syrup to induce vomiting
Gastric Lavage • Questionable effectiveness • No evidence of improved patient outcome • Risk of serious complications ~3%
Activated Charcoal • Binds toxins to its surface and being non-absorbable allows charcoal-toxin complex to be excreted via the GI tract • Toxic if aspirated • do not give if decreased LOC or greater than 1 hour from ingestion • Not bound by charcoal: • Iron, lithium, cyanide, strong acids and bases, ethanol, methanol, ethylene glycol • Ions/Acids/Bases/Alcohols
Whole Bowel Irrigation • Polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution (PEG, GoLytely) • Useful for large ingestions of substances: • Not bound by charcoal • Late presentation after overdose • Extended release preparations • Need a nasogastric tube • 1-2 L/hr for adults and 0.5 L/hr for peds
Antidotes • Carbon monoxide • Opiates • Acetominophen • Methanol • Ethylene glycol • Iron • Cyanide • Organophosphates • Oxygen • Naloxone • N-acetylcysteine • Ethanol/Fomepizole • Ethanol/Fomepizole • Deferoxamine • Nitrites/Thiosulfate • Atropine/2-PAM
Antidotes • Isoniazid • Beta-Blockers • Sulfonylureas • Digoxin • Methemoglobinemia • Benzodiazepines • Pyridoxine • Glucagon • Diazoxide • Digibind • Methylene blue • Flumazenil