Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T17:02:00.863Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 35 - Poisoning

from Section III: - Organ dysfunction and management

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 July 2010

Edited by
Edited in association with
Fang Gao Smith
Affiliation:
University of Warwick
Joyce Yeung
Affiliation:
West Midlands Deanery
Get access

Summary

Deliberate self-poisoning is usually an intentional oral ingestion of a variety of drugs by previously well adults and makes up 95% of cases. This chapter explains airway and breathing, and circulation in the initial assessment and resuscitation phase. In the clinical examination the patient's symptoms and signs elicited on physical examination provide clues to the most likely drugs involved and guide early therapy especially when the cause is unidentified. The chapter lists out various investigations that include electrocardiogram, arterial blood gases, radiology and drug screening. The importance of maintaining physiological stability whilst minimizing the toxic effects of drug ingestion is paramount. The toxicity can be diminished by preventing drug absorption, inhibition of toxic metabolite formation, and augmentation of drug elimination. The general care of the unconscious patient includes regular monitoring of vital signs and organ support. The chapter lists out management of specific drugs that include salicylates (aspirin).
Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

  • Poisoning
  • Edited by Fang Gao Smith, University of Warwick
  • Edited in association with Joyce Yeung
  • Book: Core Topics in Critical Care Medicine
  • Online publication: 06 July 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511712289.037
Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

  • Poisoning
  • Edited by Fang Gao Smith, University of Warwick
  • Edited in association with Joyce Yeung
  • Book: Core Topics in Critical Care Medicine
  • Online publication: 06 July 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511712289.037
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Poisoning
  • Edited by Fang Gao Smith, University of Warwick
  • Edited in association with Joyce Yeung
  • Book: Core Topics in Critical Care Medicine
  • Online publication: 06 July 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511712289.037
Available formats
×