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Biomedical subjects

R B McFee

Publications and source records attributed to R B McFee.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Selected tricyclic antidepressant ingestions involving children 6 years old or less.

OBJECTIVE: According to the annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers, tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) ingestions accounted for 15,708 exposures in 1998, of which 70% (all age groups) were treated at health care facilities (HCFs), with an estimated 2,022 children less than 6 years of age exposed. The study objective was to evaluate the manifestations, referral patterns, HCF management, and medical outcomes in pediatric patients 6 years old or less with TCA ingestions reported to a regional poison control center. METHODS: All TCA (amitriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline) ingestions from January 1, 1993, to December 31, 1997, involving patients aged 6 years or less managed by the poison control center were evaluated for dose, symptoms, treatments, disposition, and outcome. RESULTS: Forty-four of 48 patients (92%) were asymptomatic. All were single-drug exposures. Forty-three patients (90%) ingested a TCA dose that was less than the normally prescribed pediatric dose (5 mg/kg). Of the five children ingesting >5 mg/kg (range 5-9.4 mg/kg), only one (5.3 mg/kg) was mildly symptomatic (drowsy) prior to admission. Thirty-one of the 48 (65%) were sent to the emergency department (dose range 0.59-9.4 mg/kg). Fourteen of the 31 were admitted for 12-24-hour observation and none subsequently developed symptoms. Twenty-three (74%) received activated charcoal (AC). There was no difference in outcome between the children who did and did not receive AC. CONCLUSIONS: No case of significant toxicity occurred in the children who experienced unintentional TCA ingestions in this study population. None of the children in the study had toxicity at doses <5 mg/kg. Further study is necessary to develop clinical guidelines for the appropriate referral of unintentional ingestions of TCA involving children.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2000

A nationwide survey of the management of unintentional-low dose tricyclic antidepressant ingestions involving asymptomatic children: implications for the development of an evidence-based clinical guideline.

BACKGROUND: The triage of unintentional tricyclic and cyclic antidepressant ingestions involving children <6 years seems based on single cases or small studies. Walsh, in describing 2 cases involving 15-20 mg/kg ingestions, recommended hospitalizing all children ingesting tricyclic and cyclic antidepressants. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the patterns of triage for pediatric tricyclic and cyclic antidepressants practiced by regional poison control centers nationwide, and to determine the amount ingested (mg/kg) that resulted in referral to the emergency department, including the recommended duration of observation time for asymptomatic children. Second, to analyze the cost implications, as well as the need for a practice guideline based on severity stratification. METHODS: We sent a survey to 44 major regional poison control centers. We reviewed Health Care Financing Administration's tricyclic and cyclic antidepressants management related costs. RESULTS: Thirty centers responded (68%). Eighty-seven percent of all centers send children, regardless of dose ingested, to the emergency department. Four out of the 30 recommended observation based on dose in mg/ kg ingested (range >1.5-5). Recommended observation times in the emergency department varied between 6-24 hours. Twenty-seven (90%) Poison Control Centers recommended 6 hours (although one recommended doing so only after administering activated charcoal). One recommended 6-12 hours of observation and 2 Poison Control Centers recommended 24-hour observation. Only 1 center recommended obtaining tricyclic and cyclic antidepressant plasma levels. DISCUSSION: In our review of the literature, the lowest toxic dose reported was 6.7 mg/kg. This is consistent with our Poison Control Center data over the past 5 years where no child was toxic at doses <5 mg/kg. While only 13% of the centers surveyed utilize a stratification strategy to triage pediatric tricyclic and cyclic antidepressant ingestions, the current referral patterns support evaluation based on pharmacokinetics, not worst case incidents. CONCLUSION: This survey demonstrates that most children with tricyclic and cyclic antidepressant ingestions will be sent to the emergency department, regardless of the amount ingested. A prospective study is needed to determine the probable dose of tricyclic and cyclic antidepressant ingestions that requires observation at a health care facility.

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic↗
PubMed1995

Wandering spleen with torsion in a geriatric patient. Report of an unusual case with a brief review of the clinical picture and management.

Wandering spleen is a rare condition that is extremely uncommon in the elderly. A case of wandering spleen with torsion in a 73-year-old female is described in detail. Our patient's presentation is unusual because in 1972, during a total hysterectomy, she had no evidence of a wandering spleen. Preoperative technetium-99 radionuclide liver-spleen studies were utilized to minimize the potential for vascular difficulties. Splenectomy was the treatment of choice for this condition and was performed to avoid splenic infarction. A review of the literature and etiologic considerations are discussed.

Aged↗