Antidote use in the critically ill poisoned patient.
The proper use of antidotes in the intensive care setting when combined with appropriate general supportive care may reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with severe poisonings. The more commonly used antidotes that may be encountered in the intensive care unit (N-acetylcysteine, ethanol, fomepizole, physostigmine, naloxone, flumazenil, sodium bicarbonate, octreotide, pyridoxine, cyanide antidote kit, pralidoxime, atropine, digoxin immune Fab, glucagon, calcium gluconate and chloride, deferoxamine, phytonadione, botulism antitoxin, methylene blue, and Crotaline snake antivenom) are reviewed. Proper indications for their use and knowledge of the possible adverse effects accompanying antidotal therapy will allow the physician to appropriately manage the severely poisoned patient.
Betten
David P
DP
Department of Emergency Medicine, Sparrow Health System, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Lansing, Michigan 48912-1811, USA. peckb73@hotmail.com
Vohra
Rais B
RB
Cook
Matthew D
MD
Matteucci
Michael J
MJ
Clark
Richard F
RF
D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D016638:Critical Illness; D006801:Humans; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
D000931:Antidotes