1/27. Prolonged opioid antagonism with naloxone in chronic renal failure.Respiratory depression secondary to morphine intoxication occurred in an elderly patient with chronic renal failure (CRF). It was reversed with a continuous infusion of naloxone. Approximately 11 hours after the infusion was discontinued, the patient relapsed into respiratory depression consistent with opioid intoxication. He was rechallenged with a naloxone infusion with resolution of the opioid effects. This case suggests prolonged antagonism of opioid effects inconsistent with naloxone's reported pharmacologic effects. serum naloxone concentrations measured after the end of the infusion suggest that the drug's pharmacokinetics were significantly altered. Further research is necessary to characterize pharmacokinetic changes that occur in CRF. In the absence of this information, similar patients should be closely monitored for relapse of respiratory depression after naloxone is discontinued.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/27. kerosene-induced severe acute respiratory failure in near drowning: reports on four cases and review of the literature.OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to present an unusual respiratory and cardiovascular course after intoxication and near drowning in a river contaminated with kerosene. DESIGN: case reports and review of the literature. SETTING: intensive care unit of a university-affiliated hospital. patients: Four patients after near drowning. INTERVENTION: Supportive only. RESULTS: The four patients developed acute respiratory failure. Cardiomyopathy was present in three patients and a persistent hypokalemia in two patients. The onset of the symptoms was delayed, which led to underestimation of the severity of their illness. Two of the four patients died. The diagnosis of hydrocarbon intoxication was based on bronchoalveolar lavage results, neutrophilic alveolitis with the presence of lipid-laden macrophages, and evidence of lipoid pneumonia from the autopsy performed on one victim. One patient who clinically deteriorated and another who developed a severe restrictive pulmonary disorder were treated with corticosteroids, which were effective only in the latter patient. CONCLUSIONS: Acute kerosene intoxication in a near-drowning event often results in severe respiratory and cardiac failure, with a high fatality rate. Treatment with corticosteroids may lead to a rapid improvement in lung function.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.5keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/27. Respiratory failure requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after sodium phosphate enema intoxication.A variety of adverse effects are associated with the use of hypertonic sodium phosphate enemas and laxatives in children. We describe an unusual case of phosphate enema toxicity in a child that resulted in cardiopulmonary failure necessitating the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The toxicity associated with hypertonic sodium phosphate enemas is reviewed. CONCLUSION: Hypertonic sodium phosphate enemas can cause cardiopulmonary failure.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/27. Fatal lipoid pneumonia due to bronco-aspiration of isoparaffin after ingestion of an organophosphate insecticide.A 66-year-old-male patient with a history of depression voluntarily ingested around 400 ml of an insecticide composed of 5% methylparathion, 75% isoparaffin, 8% etoxylated oleic acid, 4% 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, 6% naphtha, 1% 1,3,5- trimethylbenzene, 0.4% propylbenzene and 0.3% xylene. The patient was conscious and alert at admission. gastric lavage was performed and activated charcoal administered. There were no clinical symptoms of organophospate ingestion despite reduced concentrations of erythrocyte and plasma cholinesterase. Chest X-ray showed pulmonary infiltrate compatible with bronco-aspiration. The patient evolved to respiratory failure refractory to treatment and died from multiorganic failure 23 days after ingesting the insecticide. The pathological findings included a pulmonary fibrosis in the alveolar spaces which caused enlargement of the intra-alveolar septa. Abundant lipin-laden macrophages were observed within the alveolar spaces. We review the most relevant aspects of cases of fatal lipoid pneumonia and point out that on occasion severe or fatal intoxication is due to the substances accompanying the active ingredients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/27. A forensic toxicological dilemma: the interpretation of post-mortem concentrations of central acting analgesics.Dora V., a 88-year-old pensioner suffering from a hiatus hernia, died at the home of an orthopaedist and his wife, an anaesthetist, immediately after she had received a dose of 300 mg pethidine via intravenous infusion in a timeframe of about 90 min. One day before her death a befriended notary of the couple visited Dora V. and obtained a blank signature. After her death, a will was forged using this signature, rendering the couple sole heirs of Dora V.'s estate with a value of several million euros. Post-mortem toxicology was performed in three different institutes of legal medicine. The concentrations of pethidine in peripheral venous blood were between 6.1 and 6.5mg/l and 9.5 and 17.2mg/kg in brain. Pharmacokinetic calculation confirms the given dose. There was no doubt that the cause of death was acute pethidine intoxication. The accused couple claimed that this dose of pethidine was indicated to relief pain, and as the pathologists said in their expert opinions that the hiatus hernia could explain her death, the court had to acquit the accused. This very special case demonstrates that preconceived murder of a sick person with suitable analgesics cannot be proven--at least not with the methods available to forensic toxicology and pathology. This has to be taken into consideration if euthanasia will be legalised under special circumstances.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/27. A case of severe diazoxide toxicity.Hyperinsulism is a rare cause of persistent hypoglycemia in the neonatal period. Therapy can be accomplished either surgically or pharmacologically. diazoxide treatment remains the mainstay of medical therapy. Tolerance of diazoxide is usually excellent, but several adverse effects of this drug have been described. A case of severe diazoxide intoxication with fluid retention, congestive heart failure, and respiratory failure is reported. The patient was a 43-day-old infant, affected by persistent and severe hypoglycemia. After the diagnosis, hyperinsulinism was established he was treated with diazoxide (17 mg x kg(-1) daily) and octreotide (12 microg x kg(-1) daily). A few days later he presented with hepatomegaly, severe fluid retention, diffuse edema, congestive heart failure, and respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. After introduction of ACE inhibitors he developed acute renal failure. The clinical condition worsened and he developed pulmonary hypertension requiring high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. diazoxide was stopped on the 12th day in spite of poor control of blood sugar. During the next 5 days his hemodynamic status dramatically improved and he was weaned from catecholamines: he lost weight, had a negative fluid balance, and the edema disappeared, a normal diuresis resumed and renal function improved. Improvement of respiratory patterns and gas exchange made it possible to switch back to conventional ventilation and then to extubate the patient. echocardiography demonstrated reduction of the PA pressure to normal and resolution of atrial enlargement. The patient was scheduled for elective subtotal pancreatectomy. diagnosis and management of diazoxide intoxication are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/27. Multiple complications and withdrawal syndrome associated with quetiapine/venlafaxine intoxication.OBJECTIVE: To report a case of quetiapine/venlafaxine intoxication associated with multiple complications and to review their possible relationship with these 2 drugs. CASE SUMMARY: A 53-year-old white man was admitted to the hospital for loss of consciousness secondary to voluntary intoxication with venlafaxine and quetiapine. Several complications were attributable to this intoxication including seizures, prolonged coma, respiratory depression, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, prolonged QRS and QTc intervals, and a possible venlafaxine withdrawal syndrome. DISCUSSION: Quetiapine could be responsible for the neuroleptic malignant syndrome presented in this case. Moreover, venlafaxine intoxication, fever, autonomic instability, and myoclonus presented serotonin syndrome as a differential diagnosis. Potential causes of seizures and prolongation of the QRS and QTc intervals are reviewed. Finally, prolonged coma and late venlafaxine withdrawal are discussed with regard to the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of drug elimination in the context of intoxication. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should be aware of possible complications following intoxication with atypical antipsychotics and anti-depressants, including protracted altered mental status.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/27. Respiratory failure in a neonate after folk treatment with broom bush (Retama raetam) extract.OBJECTIVES: To increase the awareness of intoxication by folk herbal remedies in the pediatric population. methods: Case report of a 7-day-old baby boy admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit in a university-affiliated hospital. RESULTS: The patient presented with respiratory failure and central nervous system depression. Specific questioning of the parents revealed consumption of folk herbal remedy by the neonate. Mechanical ventilation was used for 24 hours until normal activity level resumed. CONCLUSIONS: The possibility of intoxication in a neonate should not be overlooked. Folk herbal remedies, especially if taken in larger than recommended amounts, may be hazardous. Accessible herbal and folk medicine data bank will contribute to a better treatment of patients having side effects of these remedies.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/27. Fatal respiratory depression after multiple intravenous morphine injections.A 26-year-old female was treated with morphine within the first 2 hours after knee surgery, in an attempt to titrate analgesia. The patient received a total of four intravenous injections of morphine 35 mg in total. Soon after the last injection the patient had adequate pain relief, was in a good clinical state and had adequate blood oxygenation. However, 40 minutes later, the patient had a deep respiratory depression followed by a fatal cardiac arrest. Solving the case in a medico-legal context was possible by applying results of clinical pharmacokinetic research on opioid analgesics, most importantly morphine, to this particular clinical case. This knowledge made it possible to estimate the probable concentrations of morphine at the site of its effect, the brain, during the time of the fatal event, and to show that these concentrations could have produced respiratory depression. We mainly attribute the fatal intoxication of morphine to the lag period needed for the transfer of morphine across the blood-brain barrier. Because of its slow transfer between plasma and the effect site, the CNS effects of morphine are delayed from its plasma concentrations to a clinically relevant degree. Successive injections at short intervals of relatively high amounts of morphine increase the clinical relevance of this delay. The present report demonstrates an important application of clinical pharmacokinetics for explaining clinical observations at a scientific level and transferring theoretical knowledge from clinical pharmacokinetics into daily clinical practice as a basis for rational opioid selection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/27. Two cases of rapid onset Parkinson's syndrome following toxic ingestion of ethylene glycol and methanol.ethylene glycol and methanol are toxic alcohols commonly found in a variety of commercial products. We report two cases, one associated with ethylene glycol and one with methanol poisoning, which both led to acute hemorrhagic necrosis of the basal ganglia and resulted in acute Parkinson's syndrome. It is unlikely that oxalate crystal deposition is the only mechanism for such basal ganglia necrosis, because similar findings were seen following methanol intoxication. We discuss other possible mechanisms that may contribute towards this unusual neurotoxicity. Both of our patients survived their toxic ingestions, but then developed acute Parkinson's syndrome within 10 days of the ingestion. However, the patient who ingested methanol developed respiratory muscle stiffness/weakness, which responded poorly to anti-Parkinsonian drug therapy. Treatment with carbidopa/levodopa improved cogwheel rigidity and bradykinesia in both patients. We conclude that acute Parkinsonism is one of the lesser-recognized devastating complications of both ethylene glycol and methanol poisoning.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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