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) · Aug 2018
Impact of a chronic pain management pathway on opioid administration and prescribing in an Emergency Department.
Prescription opioid abuse and misuse is a significant public health crisis. In 2012, an opioid prescribing pathway for patients with chronic pain presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) was implemented. The objective of this study is to determine the impact of the pathway for administration of opioids in the ED as well as the prescribing of opioids for home use after discharge. ⋯ After the implementation of a chronic pain management pathway in an ED, there is a decrease noted in opioids administered to patients with chronic pain both in the ED and prescriptions on discharge. In patients presenting with acute pain, there was no change in administration or prescription of opioids.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Jul 2018
Case ReportsFatal myocarditis and rhabdomyolysis induced by nivolumab during the treatment of type B3 thymoma.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors including programmed death-1 inhibitors are promising agents for many types of malignancies; however, it is still an off-label choice for type B3 thymoma. We reported for the first time a patient with type B3 thymoma developed fatal myocarditis and rhabdomyolysis after one dose of nivolumab administration. ⋯ The blood tests showed elevated levels of serum AChR-binding antibody and inflammatory cytokines, in addition abnormal lymphocyte subsets were noted. Our report suggested that administration of nivolumab in type B3 thymoma could cause rare but fatal myocarditis and rhabdomyolysis, over-expressed AChR-binding antibody and inflammatory cytokines may be potential biomarkers for irAEs.
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The aim of this systematic review was to identify isolated acute cyanide poison cases and to identify reported signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings. ⋯ Contrary to general reviews published on cyanide toxicity, reports of cherry red skin and bitter almond odor were rare among published cyanide cases. Consistent with other studies, metabolic acidosis with significant lactic acidosis were the laboratory values consistently associated with cyanide toxicity. Healthcare providers may overlook cyanide toxicity in the differential diagnosis, if certain expected characteristics, such as the odor of almonds or a cherry red color of the skin are absent on physical examination.
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The number of cases reported to poison centers has decreased since 2008 but there is evidence that the complexity of calls is increasing. ⋯ Looking only at poison center total call volume may not be an adequate method to gauge productivity.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · May 2018
Case ReportsAcquired methemoglobinemia after hydroxocobalamin administration in a patient with burns and inhalation injury.
Hydroxocobalamin is an effective cyanide antidote. While erythema, hypertension, and chromaturia are recognized side effects, methemoglobinemia has not been reported. Methemoglobin levels are most accurately measured by co-oximetry. We describe an extensively burned patient who developed methemoglobinemia within an hour of hydroxocobalamin administration. ⋯ Methemoglobinemia in our patient was temporally associated with hydroxocobalamin administration.