Archive

Medical Category: Toxicology

Return Encounters in Emergency Department Patients Treated with Phenobarbital Versus Benzodiazepines for Alcohol Withdrawal

Background: The emergency department is frequently visited by patients suffering from symptomatic alcohol withdrawal, and the traditional management has been dominated by repeated doses of benzodiazepines.1, 2 Phenobarbital has been studied as an alternative or adjunct to benzodiazepines with encouraging …

Read More
Toxicology

REBEL Core Cast 100.0 – Alcoholic Ketoacidosis

Take Home Points Alcoholic Ketoacidosis (AKA) can present with significant acidemia (pH < 7.00). Despite the significant acidemia, patients with AKA can remain alert and lucid despite their severe metabolic derangement. Relying on urine ketones for diagnosis can be misleading, …

Read More
Toxicology

REBEL Cast Ep115 – Phenobarbital vs Lorazepam in Alcohol Withdrawal

Background information: Alcohol has potentiating effects on the inhibitory GABA neurotransmission system and inhibitory effects on the excitatory glutamate neurotransmission system. Chronic alcohol use causes changes to preserve homeostasis, and when the stimulus is removed, alcohol withdrawal results due to …

Read More
Toxicology

Managing the Patient with Alcohol Intoxication

Background: Acute alcohol intoxication is often identified early in a patient’s visit by behavioral changes accompanied by slurred speech, ataxia, nystagmus, or the smell of alcohol. However, evaluating and managing patients with acute alcohol intoxication in the emergency department can …

Read More
Toxicology

REBEL Core Cast 93.0 – Lithium Toxicity

Take Home Points Lithium toxicity comes in a three flavors: acute, chronic and acute on chronic. Each form will have a different presentation as well as management. Lithium levels are often unreliable in terms of guiding management and must be …

Read More
Toxicology

Sponsored