Gastric lavage is a GI decontamination technique that aims to empty the stomach of toxic substances by the sequential administration and aspiration of small volumes of fluid via an orogastric tube. Previously widely favoured method that has now been all but abandoned due to lack of evidence of efficacy and risk of complications.
Organophosphate Poisoning: common cause of poisoning in the developing world; covalent bonding with inactivation of acetylcholinesterase; results in cholinergic crisis
Transfusion Literature Summaries
Routine Daily Chest X-ray: controversial issue; viewed as an essential tool but is subject to overuse and misinterpretation; no evidence of harm from a more restrictive strategy
Pregnancy results in increased susceptibility to endotoxin, metabolic acidosis and cardiovascular collapse
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING Scheinkestel, C.D. et al (1999) “Hyperbaric or normobaric oxygen for acute carbon monoxide poisoning: a randomized controlled clinical trial” Med J Aust, 170:203-210 Weaver, L.K. et al (2002) “Hyperbaric oxygen for acute carbon monoxide poisoning” NEJM 347:1057-1067…
Barbiturates cause severe CNS and respiratory depression and may mimic brain death
A 24 year old woman presents with generalised abdominal discomfort. She is concerned she looks pregnant but numerous pregnancy tests have been negative.
Anorexia Nervosa = chronic, severe, multi-system disorder which is rooted in a fear of becoming overweight with deliberate weight loss
Status epilepticus is considered to have occurred when a generalised tonic-clonic seizure has lasted greater than 30 minutes.
Cervical Spine Fractures
Digoxin toxicity is characterised by gastrointestinal distress, hyperkalemia and life-threatening dysryhthmias, including increased automaticity and AV nodal blockade