Toxicology (main)

Tox Exam

  1. All VS (Temp, RR,HR, BP)
  2. Neuro Exam
    1. Level of consciousness
    2. Pupillary exam
    3. Motor response
  3. Skin Exam - moisture, temp
  4. Lung Exam
  5. Bowel Sounds

Toxidromes

Finding
Mixed Cholinergic (Organophosphates)
Anticholinergic (TCAs, antihist, phenothiazines)
Sympathomimetic^ (Cocaine, Amphetamines, ketamine)
Sympatholytic^^ (Clonidine)
Sedative/Hypnotic ETOH
Temp
Nl
Nl/Inc
Nl/Inc
Nl/Dec
Nl/Dec
RR
Varriable
Nl/Dec
Varriable
Nl/Dec
Nl/Dec
HR
Varriable
Inc Inc (sig)
Nl/Dec
Nl/Dec
BP
HTN
Inc
Inc
Nl/Dec
Nl/Dec
LOC
Nl/Lethargic
Nl, agitated, psychotic, comatose
Nl, agitated, psychotic
Nl, Lethargic, or Comatose
Nl, Lethargic, or Comatose
Pupils
Varriable
Mydriatic
Mydriatic
Nl/Miotic

Motor
Facciculations, Flacid Paral
Nl
Nl/Agitated
Nl

Skin
Sweating (sig)
Hot, dry
Sweating
Dry

Lungs
Bronchospasm/ rhinorrhea
Nl
Nl
Nl

Bowel Sounds
Hyperactive (SLUDGE)
Dec/Absent
Nl/Dec
Nl/Dec

^^Consider Sympatholytic when looking at Sedative OD or someone who doesn't respond to Narcan

DDx

Hyperthermia

  1. Altered Metabolism
    1. salicylates
    2. withdrawal states
    3. thyroid hormones
    4. dinitrophenols
  2. Increased Muscle Activity
    1. withdrawal, sympathomimetics
    2. MAOI
    3. PCP, LSD
    4. lithium, amoxapine
  3. Impaired Heat Dissipation
    1. anticholinergics
    2. antihistamines
    3. antipsychotics (TCAs)
  4. Malignant Hyperthermia
    1. anesthestics
  5. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
    1. phenothiazines, Lithium, LevoDopa

Hypothermia

  1. Exposure
    1. alcohol, sedative hypnotics
    2. narcotics, TCAs, phenothiazines
    3. Insulin (hypoglycemia)

Increased Respiratory Rate

  1. Direct Stimulation
    1. salicylates
    2. metabolic acidosis
    3. dintirophenol, pentachlorophenol
    4. hepatorenal failure
    5. CNS stimulants (cocaine, amphet, theophylline)

Tissue Hypoxia

  1. CO
  2. cyanide
  3. hydrogen sulfide
  4. methemoglobinemia

Respiratory Depression

  1. Central Depression
    1. antipsychotics
    2. chlorinated hydrocarbons
    3. alcohols/glycols, sedative/hyp
    4. TCAs
    5. Lomitil
  2. Muscle Failure
    1. organophosphates
    2. marine toxins
    3. nicotine
    4. strychnine
    5. botulinis
    6. Mojave rattlesnake, Cobra

Autonomic Nervous System

  1. Parasympathetic - ACh is transm
    1. Muscarinic
      1. receptors in heart, eye, lung, GI, skin and sweat glands
      2. Bradycardia
      3. Miosis
      4. Bronchorrhea / Bronchospasm
      5. Hyperperistalsis (SLUDGE)
      6. Sweating
      7. Vasodilation
    2. Nicotinic
      1. receptors in both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
      2. fasciculations, flaccid paralysis
      3. tachycardia, hypertension?
  2. Sympathetic
    1. ALPHA EFFECTS - vessels, eye, skin
      1. Mydriasis, HTN, Sweating
    2. BETA EFFECTS - heart, lungs
      1. Tachycardia, Bronchodilation

Source

DONALDSON (Adapted from BIRNBAUMER - 7/18/02)