ACUTE POISONING IN ADULTS

Leilah Dare SpR Emergency Medicine

Acute Poisoning in the Emergency Department

Common - 3-5% of ED attendances 2000 Deaths per year Some of the highest rates of deliberate poisoning in Europe Often multiple drugs DONT FORGET ALCOHOL !!

Summary of Lecture
General Principles in the Management of ANY Poisoning Specific management options with certain substances
Paracetamol Opiates (Heroin, Methadone, Morphine) Salicylates (Aspirin) Tricyclic Antidepressants (e.g Dothiepin)

General Management -History

Applies to ANY episode of Poisoning WHAT HOW MUCH (Ideally mg/Kg) WHEN WHAT ELSE (Including Alcohol) WHY Use Paramedics, friends, relatives, anyone!!

General Management -1
A (Airway) B (Breathing) C (Circulation) D (Disability-AVPU/ Glasgow Coma Scale) DEFG ( Dont ever forget the Glucose) GET A SET OF BASIC OBSERVATIONS

General Management -2
Use all your senses, search for the clues LOOK
Track Marks Pupil Size

FEEL
Temperature, Sweating

SMELL
Alcohol

Specific Management Options-1

DECREASING DRUG ABSORPTION
Gastric Lavage ( Unpopular - need to protect the airway, may push drug through pylorus into small bowel.) Absorbants ( Activated Charcoal , usually within 1 hour of ingestion, longer repeated doses in drugs that delay gastric emptying e.g. Aspirin)

Specific Management Options -2

INCREASING DRUG ELIMINATION
Alkaline Diuresis (Aspirin)

Haemodialysis (Aspirin)

Specific Management Options - 3

ANTAGONISING THE EFFECTS OF THE POISON
Desferrioxamine (IRON) Naloxone (OPIATES) N Acetylcysteine (PARACETAMOL)

Specific Poisons- Paracetamol

Commonest drug used 50% of all Self Poisoning Episodes 100- 200 deaths per year
DANGEROUS AND PEOPLE DONT KNOW IT. YOU FEEL WELL AND THEN THE LIVER FAILURE SETS IN..

Paracetamol-Normal Metabolism
Paracetamol converted to: N-Acetyl-p-benzoquinonamine (TOXIC) This is conjugated with Glutathione Glutathione stored in the body Produces a NON TOXIC metabolite

Paracetamol Metabolism in Overdose

Glutathione stores are used up by the excess Paracetamol Toxic Metabolite build up Binds IRREVERSIBLY to Hepatic Cell membranes Resulting in LIVER NECROSIS

Paracetamol Overdosemanagement
Initial ABC ( usually well systemically) Get a good history
TIME TAKEN, AMOUNT Any other medication History of Liver disease

N-Acetylcysteine. Shown to be advantageous if given in the first 10 hours

N - Acetylcysteine
Specific antidote used for Paracetamol Provides the Sulphydryl groups needed to increase the availability of Glutathione So that Body can turn the TOXIC metabolite into the non toxic form and prevent Liver Cell Damage and NECROSIS Problem: Not shown to be effective after 15 hours

Paracetamol Management
Able to measure levels of Paracetamol in the blood. Helps to guide whether amount taken is enough to be Hepatotoxic IF IN DOUBT start treatment before the Paracetamol levels get back to save time

Paracetamol Management-Pitfalls
Patients with Liver Disease/ Alcoholics
Depleted stores of Glutathione will start to get toxic build up sooner than healthy people

Staggered Overdoses
Levels unreliable

After 15 hours- what do you do??

Paracetamol Management
TIMEBOMB WAITING TO HAPPEN IF HAVE LATE PRESENTATION HAVE TO MONITOR FOR IMPENDING LIVER FAILURE REFER TO SPECIALIST LIVER UNIT PEOPLE DIE FROM THIS

Opiate Poisoning- Features

Common (particularly in BRI) Heroin, Methadone, Analgaesics in Elderly Action on the mu receptors giving the effects in overdose.
1. PINPOINT PUPILS 2. RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION 3.COMA

Opiate Overdose-Management
INITIAL MANAGEMENT A B C D

Opiate Overdose-Management 2
NALOXONE
Opioid antagonist High Affinity for the opiate receptors Little other effects Rapid onset Effects last 2-4 hrs, may need repeated doses Give I-M or I-V

Salicylate (Aspirin) Poisoning

Toxicity occurs due to disturbance in AcidBase Balance
1. Respiratory Alkalosis

2. Metabolic Acidosis

Aspirin Poisoning- mechanism 1

1.Direct stimulation of the respiratory centre makes you overbreathe. Hyperventilation and Respiratory Alkalosis. 2. Kidney attempts to compensate for the alkalosis by excreting alkali to give you a metabolic Acidosis 3. Aspirin inhibits the normal metabolic pathways

Aspirin poisoning- mechanism 2

3. Aspirin inhibits the normal metabolic pathways, so you get failure of the normal metabolism of CHO, Fats and Protein.
Build up of Organic Acids KETONES, LACTATE AND PYRUVATE CAUSES MORE METABOLIC ACIDOSIS

METABOLIC ACIDOSIS, BAD NEWS

Aspirin Poisoning Clinical Features

COMMON FEATURES:
Vomiting, Dehydration, Tinnitus, Vertigo Sweating, Bounding pulses, Hyperventilation

UNCOMMON FEATURES:
Confusion, Disorientation, Coma, Convulsions Haematemesis, Hyperpyrexia, clotting abnormalities, renal failure

Aspirin Overdose-Management
Initial Supportive therapy. If small amounts and asymptomatic may need no treatment Management tailored according to the amount taken Able to take Salicylate levels to help guide treatment options

Aspirin Management - General

A B C D (EFG)

Aspirin Management - Specific

When extremely high levels of Aspirin have been ingested and the patients are symptomatic steps may be taken to 1. DECREASE ABSORPTION 2. INCREASE DRUG ELIMINATION

Aspirin- Decreasing absorption

Activated Charcoal
Given in those who have taken more than 250mg/Kg body weight less than 1 hour ago

Gastric Lavage
May be considered in those who have taken more than 500mg/kg body less than 1 hour ago. Steps must be taken to protect the airway

Aspirin-Increasing Drug Elimination

Urinary Alkalinisation
If you increase urinary pH from 5 to 8 there is a 10-20 fold increase in the renal salicylate clearance This is done by giving an infusion of Sodium Bicarbonate. Care must be taken because this in itself is dangerous and can cause severe Acid Base Disturbances

Aspirin- Increasing Drug Elimination

HAEMODIALYSIS
Used in severe life threatening overdose Aims to correct the Acid Base disturbances while removing the Salicylate

Tricyclic Antidepressants
Seen relatively frequently Can be fatal Can be very symptomatic, effects made worse by alcohol Main effects are on the Heart and Brain Effects are
1. Anticholinergic 2. Quinidine like

TCA Overdose- Clinical features

ANTICHOLINERGIC EFFECTS
Dry Mouth, Dry Eyes, Dilated Pupils, Urinary Retention, Blurred Vision, Dizziness, Palpitations, Pyrexia without sweating CNS Effects- Confusion, Delerium, Coma, Convulsions, Myoclonus and Respiratory Depression

TCA Overdose Clinical Features

Cardiac Toxicity (quinidine effects)
Heart Block, Asystole, Bradycardia, Tachycardia, Ventricular Dysrythmias ECG Changes - broadening of QRS complex, Widened QT Interval

TCA Overdose- Management 1

Mainstay of initial management is Supportive. Try not to give other drugs ontop with a few specific exceptions A- May need intubating B C- Give IV fluids if low BP D -Control convulsions with Diazepam

TCA Overdose Management 2

Activated Charcoal if more than 4 mg/Kg within 1 hour.
N.B WATCH OUT FOR THE AIRWAY

Correct Hypoxia with Oxygen Correct Acidosis with Na Bic Correct any arrythmias with Na Bic (i.e start by controlling the acid base disturbance)

QUESTIONS
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SUMMARY
Get as much history as you can, know your enemy Mainstay of any poisoning is Supportive Dont Forget the ABC For specific substances there maybe antidotes For Specific circumstances consider decreasing the absorption or increasing the elimination of the drug.