General Measures In Poisoning

The treatment of a poisoned patient requires a rapid and genuine approach. There are three principles underlying the management of poisoning:

• Life support
• Drug identification
• Drug detoxification

Drug overdose or poisoning by other chemicals can often manifest itself as an acute clinical emergency. The kinds of life-threatening emergencies include seizures, cardiac arrhythmias, circulatory shock and coma. Massive damage to liver, lungs or kidneys can also lead to death with in a relatively short period of time. Immediate supportive measures may take precedence over identification and detoxification of the offending agent. Therefore, maintenance of vital functions such as respiration, circulation, suppression of seizures, etc. is given priority.

Drug identification and the amount taken may have to be deduced frrm a combination of client history, clinical manifestations and laboratory findings.

The first action for drug detoxification is to cease the administration of the offending agent until the crisis is under control. The effectiveness of the approaches employed for detoxification may depend on the route of administration of the poison.

The general approaches employed to reduce systemic absorption of an ingested poison where the client still has an intact gag reflex is to administer an emetic (eg. Syrup of epecac), a cathartic (eg. Magnesium sulphate), an adsorbent (eg. Activated charcoal) or a combination of these. Emesis is contraindicated after ingestion of corrosive chemicals.

Within clinical environment, more invasive procedures such as gastric lavage and haemodialysis can be performed.

Specific antidotes can also be used as detoxifying agents. Antidotes are available against poisoning with the following substances and are able to reverse the toxic manifestations.

Specific antidotes for poisoning with substances.