|
|
An algorithm of the pre-hospital and the acute hospital care during an ethylene glycol intoxication.
MILOTA, Jiří
Ethylene glycol intoxication is a serious life threatening condition, that may appear to be a serious risk in connection with the easy availability of preparations containing this substance. The work titled An algorithm of the pre-hospital and the acute hospital care during an ethylene glycol intoxication provides information on this issue and summarizes appropriate treatment in pre hospital and acute hospital care, which should lead to increased treatment efficiency and reduced health consequences. The most common source of ethylene glycol in the household is anti freeze mixtures for vehicles, the most often accidental ingested liquid. The toxic nature of ethylene glycol is a decomposition into acidic metabolites and formation of calcium crystals causing necrosis and organ failure. A typical immage of ethylenglycol intoxication is a consciousness depresion, total acidosis, acute renal failure, and an increased anion gap. Appropriate therapy should be initiate by first aid, followed by professional pre hospital and hospital care. There should be made a gastric decontamination in first houre of ingestion. Vital functions must be provided, but the key method is using of antidotes (alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitors ethanol or fomepizol). In case of indikation causal treatment also includes elimination methods, most often intermittent hemodialysis and cofactor application. Symptomatic treatment is based on acid base homeostasis and specific biochemical levels balance. The thesis was made by form of review and synthesis using large number of science sourc es dealing with the current issue of EG intoxication. The main purpose of work is comparing of Czech and global authors to illustrate different possibilities of treatmet and create educational material for students of health care disciplines or medical professionals looking for quick and simply way to solve acute emergency or crate an idea of adequate care.
|
|
|
Attitudes and options of nurses in the care of ethylene glycol poisoned patients. (theretical thesis)
KMETKOVÁ, Monika
Ethylene glycol intoxication, suicidal as well as accidental, belongs to serious, immediately life-threatening poisonings, which can however be cured even in the most severe cases (provided early recognition and correct treatment), including the restoration of renal function to the original state. Ethylene glycol is most notably present in anti-freeze cooling liquids for vehicles (such as Fridex). Consumption of 100-150 ml of such a solution is considered a lethal dose in humans. follows Oral ingestion is followed by rapid absorption. Metabolic decomposition takes place predominantly in the liver by way of alcohol dehydrogenase, to glycoaldehyde, which is further metabolised to glycolic acid and oxalic acid. The clinical aspect is dominated by acute renal failure which is caused by acute tubular necrosis. Toxicological examination including an assessment of ethylene glycol levels in both blood and urine, with prognostic relevance, is indispensable to diagnostics of the poisoning as well as from the standpoint of differential diagnostics. Therapeutic measures include gastric lavage within one hour of ingestion and administration of activated charcoal. Administration of ethanol and fomepizole, compounds that bind alcohol dehydrogenase and thus prevent the conversion of ethylene glycol to its toxic metabolites, is considered valid causal treatment with simultaneous early institution of hemodialysis (even in cases of hitherto intact renal function). As fomepizole is currently not available in the Czech republic, ethanol remains the only antidote. Therapy further includes correction of metabolic acidosis by way of bicarbonates, and intravenous application of thiamine and pyridoxine. Therapy of such a grave condition must entail infirmary care provided by professional nurses as a necessary complement. The nurse serves their function in securing the patient's airways, connecting the patient to mechanical ventilation, monitoring physiological functions, assistance with invasive entry, as well as conducting sample extractions, assuring proper hygiene, the prevention of decubitus ulcers etc. It has been the aim of an extensive effort during my analysis of this topic to collate an up-to-date summary of practical knowledge on ethylene glycol intoxication, as well as subsequent therapeutic options for such patients, based on collected information and available source material. This final thesis, entitled "Approach and Options for Nurses in Therapy of Ethylene Glycol-intoxicated Patients" has been created relying on a body of purely theoretical Czech and foreign sources. To attain awareness of the current state of medical sciences described on the following pages, many professional and scientific publications, books as well as journals and websites of registered professional societies had to be studied. The aim of a detailed inspection of such an extensive body of data has been to provide relevant findings based on the facts determined. The accumulated information is further specified in particular sections. The first deal with intoxication, elimination and first aid in the pre-hospitalization phase from a broader perspective. Without these elementary notes the thesis as a whole would lack in conclusiveness. From this section the thesis fluidly continues with ethylene glycol intoxication itself, its treatment and all the way to the role of the nurse including particular therapeutic measures. These sections contain specific recommendations issuing from news and cutting-edge research on ethylene glycol poisonings.
|
guest ::
