A Narrative Review on Emergency Management of Poisoning

Abstract

Poisoning cases are coming to the Emergency Department (ED) and cases are increasing day by day due to their easy and vast availability. Clinicians are frequently dealt with to manage critically ill poisoning patients. With the swing of prominence in managing poisoning from in-patient care to early decontamination and early stabilisation, ED physicians are playing a more dynamic role in the care of poisoned patients. The clinical effects encountered by them are dependent on numerous variables, such as the dose, the duration of exposure, the health history of the patient, to provide thorough supportive care, recognition of patients requiring treatment with a specific antidote, and to use the appropriate methods to restrict poison absorption or to increase its elimination, which is the foundation of management. If poisoning in the patient is documented early and appropriate compassionate care is commenced hastily, maximum of patients recover soon. This article is aimed to focus on the more specific issues of emergency management of the poisoned patient.

Keywords

• antidotes
• blood poisoning
• emergency medicine
• gastric lavage
• medico-legal aspects
• patient care