1/7. hydrofluoric acid-induced burns and life-threatening systemic poisoning--favorable outcome after hemodialysis.BACKGROUND: skin contact with hydrofluoric acid (HF) may cause serious burns and life-threatening systemic poisoning. The use of hemodialysis in fluoride intoxication after severe dermal exposure to HF has been recommended but not reported. CASE REPORT: A 46-year-old previously healthy man had 7% of his body surface exposed to 71% HE Despite prompt management, with subsequent normalization of the serum electrolytes, recurrent ventricular fibrillation occurred. On clinical suspicion of fluoride-induced cardiotoxicity, acute hemodialysis was performed. The circulatory status stabilized and the patient fully recovered. High fluoride levels in the urine and serum were confirmed by the laboratory. DISCUSSION: There is no ultimate proof that the favorable outcome in this case was significantly attributable to the dialysis. However, most reported exposures of this magnitude have resulted in fatal poisoning. As our patient had normal serum electrolytes and no hypoxia or acidosis at the time of his arrhythmias, it was decided that all efforts should be focused on removing fluoride from his blood. The rationale for performing hemodialysis for this purpose is clear, even though such intervention is more obviously indicated in patients with renal failure. CONCLUSION: Hemodialysis may be an effective and potentially lifesaving additional treatment for severe exposure to HF when standard management has proven insufficient.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/7. Spurious hyperchloremia and decreased anion gap in a patient with dextromethorphan bromide.Although cold syrup containing dextromethorpan bromide is widely administered, the bromism due to cold syrup has not been reported. We report a patient who had negative anion gap with hyperchloremia and conscious loss because of daily intake of cold complex syrup (containing dextromethorphan bromide 0.4 mg/ml, acetaminophen 8.33 mg/ml) for headache for 4-5 years. The bromide content in cold complex syrup resulted in serum levels of bromide that interfered with the automated analyzers for chloride content. When conscious change is due to bromism, hemodialysis instead of forced hydration and diuresis should be performed immediately. Therefore, patients with a markedly negative anion gap with hyperchloremia should be considered as having halide intoxication.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/7. The dipsomania of great distance: water intoxication in an Ironman triathlete.Of 371 athletes (62% of all finishers) whose weights were measured before and after the 226 km South African Ironman Triathlon, the athlete who gained the most weight (3.6 kg) during the race was the only competitor to develop symptomatic hyponatraemia. During recovery, he excreted an excess of 4.6 litres of urine. This case report again confirms that symptomatic hyponatraemia is caused by considerable fluid overload independent of appreciable NaCl losses. Hence prevention of the condition requires that athletes be warned not to drink excessively large volumes of fluid (dipsomania) during very prolonged exercise. This case report also shows that there is a delayed diuresis in this condition and that it is not caused by renal failure.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/7. Acute renal failure following ingestion of manganese-containing fertilizer.fertilizers are used to promote the survival and growth of plants and crops and have a good safety record when used properly. The basic elements in fertilizer include phosphorus, nitrite, and potassium. In addition, there are additive agents that vary for different crops and which may include some metals. Acute intoxication by ingesting fertilizer includes damage to various organ systems as well as severe cardiovascular or respiratory distress. We report the case of a 64-year-old man who ingested about 700 mL of fertilizer and suffered acute renal failure, hyperkalemia, and mild methemoglobinemia. After supportive care and emergent hemodialysis for hemodynamic instability due to hyperkalemia, the renal function of the patient recovered in four days.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/7. Regression of long standing anorexia nervosa following acute renal failure caused by gentamicin intoxication.A female patient aged 22 with fully developed symptoms of anorexia nervosa presented the following metabolic disturbances: persistent hyperuricemia, hyponatruria, (sometimes with sodium lack in urine) as well as frequent hyponatremia and hyper-uricosuria. The patient's low arterial blood pressure (70/40 mm Hg on average) was not improved by pharmacological treatment, and only high oral doses of table salt (20-70 g/24 h) did prove effective in the therapy. The subject passed seven renal calculi composed of sodium urate and uric acid. Numerous urinalyses did not reveal any changes, and bacterial cultures of the urine were also negative. After 14 years of anorexia nervosa, the patient was treated for pneumonia with gentamicin at doses of 2 x 80 mg/24 h. Following third dose of the antibiotic, the patient developed acute renal failure and was treated by haemodialysis for six weeks. The renal function came gradually to the norm. Simultaneously, all the anorexia nervosa symptoms subsided along with sodium metabolism disturbances, while purine metabolism disorders got considerably alleviated. The patient started to have her menstrual cycles again, gained 12 kg in body weight, and one year afterwards bore a son. A further 10-year follow-up period was free of any pathological changes except for a slight hyperuricemia. To the best of our knowledge, the similar case has not been reported in the medical literature and electronic data bases.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/7. The management of acute quinidine intoxication.A 16-year-old patient survived severe intoxication with quinidine. hypotension, rapidly progressing to oliguria and shock, was resistant to the usual therapeutic interventions but responded favorably to the use of an intra-aortic balloon pump. Some hemodynamic implications are discussed. pulmonary edema occurred and was treated with positive end-expiratory pressure. Electrocardiographic disturbances in conduction, transient bradycardia and recurrent ventricular arrhythmias characterized the initial 36-hour critical period. Unexplained electrolyte abnormalities occurred and further complicated management.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/7. Hyperosmolality induced by propylene glycol. A complication of silver sulfadiazine therapy.An 8-month-old male infant was treated with topical silver sulfadiazine for a burn and complicating toxic epidermal necrolysis involving 78% of his total body surface area. Transdermal absorption of propylene glycol from the silver sulfadiazine produced hyperosmolality with an increased osmolal gap. A peak propylene glycol concentration of 1,059 mg/dL was documented, and its osmotic effect was that predicted from its concentration. Our data support either zero-order elimination at a rate of 13.5 mg/dL/hr or first-order elimination with a half-life of 16.9 hours. Elevated concentrations of propylene glycol may have contributed to the patient's cardiorespiratory arrest. The osmolal gap may be used as a screen for suspected propylene glycol intoxication in selected clinical settings.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = intoxication (Clic here for more details about this article) |