Approach to the Poisoned Patient
I chose to use the board game Operation as the foundation for this flashcard.
A good physical exam for a toxic patient includes: Vital Signs, Eyes, Mucous Membranes, Breath Sounds, Bowel Sounds, Skin Assessment, Reflexes, and EKG. Abnormalities of each system should be noted and a constellation of signs and symptoms will help the clinician discern possible toxidromes.
For the second edition of the flashcard set I will add a reflex hammer over one of Mo’s knees and add: Hyperreflexia / Normal / Hyporeflexia as key aspects of the exam.
Other Resources
Emergency medicine physician and assistant professor at the SUNY Upstate Medical University and the VA Medical Center in Syracuse, New York | Tox Flashcards | @EM_Pearls |