Flumazenil is a competitive benzodiazepine antagonist with a limited role in the management of benzodiazepine poisoning. Usually to reverse procedural sedation, accidental paediatric ingestion with compromise, and rarely to help make a diagnosis of benzodiazepine overdose or if a patient's airway is compromised without quick access to intubation equipment
Competitively blocks the formation of toxic metabolites in toxic alcohol ingestion by having a higher affinity for the enzyme Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH). Its chief application is in methanol and ethylene glycol ingestion, although it has been used with other toxic alcohols. Ethanol is now regarded as the second choice antidote in those countries with access to the specific ADH blocker, fomepizole.
Benztropine is the first line agent for the treatment of acute dystonic reactions. See how to administer and dose this drug.
Heinrich von Bamberger (1822 - 1888) was an Austrian physician. Bamberger sign in pericardial effusion (1856); Bamberger-Concato disease
William James West (1794-1848) described West Syndrome (Infantile Spasms) - Triad of infantile spasms, developmental delay and hypsarrhythmia
This rarely used intramuscular chelator is the most toxic of all chelating agents, and is reserved for the treatment of severe poisoning from lead, inorganic arsenic and mercury, if possible EDTA or Succimer should be used instead.
Desferrioxamine is an effective iron chelator that is used to treat systemic iron toxicity or prevent the development of systemic toxicity following acute iron overdose. It should ideally be given before iron moves intracellularly and systemic toxicity develops.
Sutton's law: When making a diagnosis one should first consider the obvious, and conduct tests which could confirm/ rule out the most likely diagnosis.
Dicobalt edetate was developed as a cyanide antidote based on the known ability of cobalt to form stable complexes with cyanide.
Questions 13.1 A 52-year-old female was admitted the previous night with an altered level of consciousness that improved rapidly with administration of glucose. She is referred to ICU the next day with confusion, ataxia and a worsening level of consciousness.…
Issue 1 (Vol. 24) of Emergency Medicine Australasia published online on 9 February 2012 CT Pan-scan (Abstract) Asha and colleagues from the University of New South Wales report on a large cohort study comparing radiation exposure to trauma patients before and after the introduction…
As a typical kiwi bloke, I’m a dyed-in-the-wool rugby fanatic (pardon the sheep reference). So when opportunities with two Super Rugby franchises arose for me in the past year, I picked the ball up and sprinted for the posts. As…