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Biomedical subjects

B H Rumack

Publications and source records attributed to B H Rumack.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Acetaminophen overdose: incidence, diagnosis, and management in 416 patients.

Acetaminophen overdose was studied in 416 patients as part of a nationwide multiclinic open study. Twenty-seven percent of the patients were toxic by plasma acetaminophen level. The 12- to 21-year-old age group had the highest incidence of toxic blood levels (47%). Children under age 5 had the mildest toxicity of any age group; only two of 16 patients had toxic blood levels. No relationship to subsequent Reye's syndrome could be demonstrated. Acetylcysteine is a safe, effective treatment if administered within the first ten hours; it has some efficacy with no toxicity if used after ten hours. Acetylcysteine has advantages over both cysteamine and methionine. All patients in this study recovered with no sequelae.

Acetaminophen↗

Treating acute acetaminophen poisoning with acetylcysteine.

A patient ingested 15.6 gm acetaminophen and sought medical attention after seven hours. At that time, her plasma acetaminophen level was 217 microng/ml. Treatment with acetylcysteine was begun eight hours after the ingestion. The clinical course of this patient was characterized by a mild illness with a minor elevation of liver enzyme values. A number of factors predicted severe hepatotoxicity for this patient had she not received treatment.

Acetaminophen↗

D-penicillamine therapy of acute arsenic poisoning.

Severe poisoning resulting from single ingestions of rodenticides, herbicides, or insecticides containing arsenic have been frequently recognized. We record three cases of solubilized arsenic trioxide poisoning in Navajo Indian children and one case of sodium arsenate ingestion in an infant. One fatality occurred during dimercaprol therapy prior to initiation of therapy with D-penicillamine. Three survivors were treated with 2.3-dimercaprol intramuscularly and with oral D-penicillamine. The use of D-penicillamine in arsenic poisoning has not been generally appreciated. Excretion data from the three children are presented which document the effectiveness of D-penicillamine, administered orally in four daily doses of 25 mg/kg/dose, in the therapy of arsenic intoxication. Excretion data for the trace metals, zinc and copper, during D-penicillamine chelation therapy are also reported.

Acute Disease↗

Caustic ingestions: a rational look at diluents.

Treatment of lye ingestions by antidotes recommended on product labels includes the use of acid neutralizers. The possibility that heat produced by this exothermic reaction increased tissue damage was examined in vitro. Although Drano produced heat with all diluents including water and milk, acid antidotes prolonged the duration of high temperature. Clinitest tablets neutralized with milk produced no temperatures above 40 degrees C. The ready availability of milk or water, their acceptance by the child, and lack of toxic side effects make them diluents of choice for alkaline corrosive agents.

Acetates↗

Clonazepam overdose resulting in cyclic coma.

Cyclic coma in a 4-year-old boy followed an ingestion of clonazepam, a new benzodiazepine, utilized in treatment of convulsive disorders. Alternation between coma and a hyperalert state occurred even after further gastrointestinal absorption had, presumably, been precluded. Laboratory identification by routine examination for benzodiazepines was unsuccessful.

Benzodiazepinones↗

Acetaminophen in serum and plasma estimated by high-pressure liquid chromatography: a micro-scale method.

We describe a capillary-sampling method for serum or plasma acetaminophen by cation-exchange chromatography. As little as 1.5 mul of plasma or serum and an equal volume of the internal standard (N-butyryl-p-aminophenol) were run, with a precision of +/- 5% between duplicates. Acetaminophen and the internal standard chromatographed in 32 and 50 min, respectively, distinct from intrinsic plasma peaks and peaks caused by other medications.

Acetaminophen↗

Unrecognized adult salicylate intoxication.

Adult salicylate intoxication has been considered to be easily recognized and assciated with low morbidity and mortality. In the present study of 73 consecutive adults hospitalized with salicylate intoxication, 27% of patients were undiagnosed for as long as 72 h after admission. The initial physical findings and laboratory data in patients not diagnosed on admission did not markedly differ from the findings in patients diagnosed on admission, and included tachypnea and acid-based disturbances as well as the frequent occurrence of neurologic abnormalities. However, patients with a delayed diagnosis of salicylate intoxication were older, rarely had a previous history of drug overdose, and more often became accidentally intoxicated while ingesting salicylate for associated medical illnesses when compared with patients diagnosed on admission. Moratlity was encountered with significantly greater frequency in patients with delayed diagnosis, and, consequently, delayed therapy, when compared with patients diagnosed on admission.

Adolescent↗