Clinical toxicology : the official journal of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology and European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Jan 2006
Practice GuidelineAcetaminophen poisoning: an evidence-based consensus guideline for out-of-hospital management.
The objective of this guideline is to assist poison center personnel in the appropriate out-of-hospital triage and initial management of patients with suspected ingestions of acetaminophen. An evidence-based expert consensus process was used to create this guideline. This guideline applies to ingestion of acetaminophen alone and is based on an assessment of current scientific and clinical information. ⋯ In patients with conditions purported to increase susceptibility to acetaminophen toxicity (alcoholism, isoniazid use, prolonged fasting), the dose of acetaminophen considered as RSTI should be greater than 4 g or 100 mg/kg (whichever is less) per day (Grade D). 3) Gastrointestinal decontamination is not needed (Grade D). Other recommendations: 1) The out-of-hospital management of extended-release acetaminophen or multi-drug combination products containing acetaminophen is the same as an ingestion of acetaminophen alone (Grade D). However, the effects of other drugs might require referral to an emergency department in accordance with the poison center's normal triage criteria. 2) The use of cimetidine as an antidote is not recommended (Grade A).
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Jan 2006
Further evidence of the usefulness of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scoring system in acute paraquat poisoning.
We have previously successfully applied the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II system to assess the severity of patients with acute paraquat poisoning, and this article investigates further evidence of the usefulness of APACHE II system in predicting the in-hospital mortality of 64 patients with acute paraquat poisoning over a period of 12 years. The predictive factors including APACHE II score, plasma paraquat concentration, severity index of paraquat poisoning (SIPP), and estimated ingestion dosage of paraquat for evaluating the outcome in paraquat-poisoned patients were assessed. ⋯ The APACHE II score is a simple, reproducible, and practical tool for evaluating the severity of acute paraquat poisoning.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Jan 2006
Practice GuidelineCamphor Poisoning: an evidence-based practice guideline for out-of-hospital management.
A review of national poison center data from 1990 through 2003 showed approximately 10,000 annual ingestion exposures to camphor-containing products. A guideline that determines the threshold dose for emergency department referral and need for pre-hospital decontamination could potentially avoid unnecessary emergency department visits, reduce health care costs, optimize patient outcome, and reduce life disruption for patients and caregivers. An evidence-based expert consensus process was used to create the guideline. ⋯ A benzodiazepine should be used to control convulsions (Grade C). 4) Patients who have been exposed to a camphor product and who remain asymptomatic after 4 hours can be safely observed at home (Grade C). 5) Induction of emesis with ipecac syrup should not be performed in patients who have ingested camphor products (Grade C). 6) Activated charcoal administration should not be used for the ingestion of camphor products. However, it could be considered if there are other ingredients in the product that are effectively adsorbed by activated charcoal or if other substances have been co-ingested. (Grade C). 7) For asymptomatic patients with topical exposures to camphor products, the skin should be thoroughly washed with soap and water and the patient can be observed at home for development of symptoms (Grade C). 8) For patients with topical splash exposures of camphor to the eye(s), the eye(s) should be irrigated in accordance with usual poison center procedures and that referral take place based on the presence and severity of symptoms (Grade D). 9) Patients with camphor inhalation exposures should be moved to a fresh air environment and referred for medical care based on the presence and severity of symptoms. It is unlikely that symptoms will progress once the patient is removed from the exposure environment (Grade D).
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Jan 2006
Case ReportsMonitoring of verapamil enantiomers concentration in overdose.
A 52-year-old woman with a history of depression and personality disorders, hypertension, coronary disease and asthma was admitted to the Department of Clinical Toxicology after taking 60 tablets of Staveran (immediate release verapamil), and 4 tablets of acetaminophen. One and a half hours after ingestion her condition was critical. She required endotracheal intubation and artificial respiration. ⋯ Terminal elimination half-lives were 18.7 (21.3) and 17.0 (18.5) hours, respectively, for R-(+)- and S-(-)-verapamil. Monitoring of verapamil enantiomers concentrations in serum indicated a higher concentration of the less active form and slightly faster elimination of the more active enantiomer. The data-support a stereoselective difference between first pass clearance and later systemic clearance of verapamil, when taken in overdose.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Jan 2006
Acute amitraz poisoning in adults: clinical features, laboratory findings, and management.
Amitraz is a formamidine pesticide widely used in agriculture and veterinary medicine as an insecticide and acaricide. Reports on amitraz poisoning in humans are not as prevalent as those in animals. Of human intoxications in the medical literature, the majority of intoxications are in children. The number of adult intoxications with amitraz is limited. ⋯ In spite of a rapidly progressing and life-threatening clinical picture, amitraz intoxication in humans carries a low morbidity and mortality when appropriate supportive treatment is given. No antidote has been developed for use in more serious cases. To prevent accidental ingestions, prominent and clear warning labels should be placed on its containers.