Podcast 574:  Cyanide Toxicity

Podcast 574: Cyanide Toxicity

Contributor: Nick Tsipis, MD

Educational Pearls:

  • Significant cyanide exposure most commonly occurs from fire/smoke exposure particularly when plastics are involved
  • Cyanide binds to cytochrome oxidase leading to the use of anaerobic metabolism which causes a profound lactic acidosis
  • Classic toxicity includes a rapid loss of consciousness, hypotension, bradycardia, respiratory depression, and seizures
  • Mild exposures can lead to nausea/vomiting, headaches, and other nonspecific symptoms.
  • Sometimes patients will complain of an almond taste.
  • Cyanide toxicity will manifest on labs by a profound anion gap acidosis with elevated lactate (but don't wait for them to ponder the diagnosis)
  • Antidote is hydroxocobalamin and sodium thiosulfate
  • Severe cyanide exposure will likely need ICU level care until the blood gas levels return to their baselines and the lactic acidosis resolves

References

Nickson Chris C, Australian Centre for Health Innovation at Alfred Health. Cyanide Poisoning • LITFL • CCC Toxicology. Life in the Fast Lane • LITFL • Medical Blog. https://litfl.com/cyanide-poisoning-ccc/. Published April 2, 2019. Accessed June 11, 2020.

Parker-Cote JL, Rizer J, Vakkalanka JP, Rege SV, Holstege CP. Challenges in the diagnosis of acute cyanide poisoning. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2018;56(7):609‐617. doi:10.1080/15563650.2018.1435886

MacLennan L, Moiemen N. Management of cyanide toxicity in patients with burns. Burns. 2015;41(1):18‐24. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2014.06.001

Summarized by Jackson Roos, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD



Jaksot(1146)

Podcast #286: Coronary Vascular Conditions that aren't STEMI

Podcast #286: Coronary Vascular Conditions that aren't STEMI

Author: Don Stader, M.D. Educational Pearls While we usually associate the coronary vasculature with STEMIs, there are other pathologies that can affect the heart's blood supply. Kounis syndrome: an ...

3 Tammi 20184min

Podcast #285: C Diff

Podcast #285: C Diff

Author: Aaron Lessen, M.D. Educational Pearls While C. difficile infections are generally thought of as nosocomial, there is a subset of patients who acquire the infection in the community. One rece...

1 Tammi 20182min

Podcast #284: Plane Emergencies

Podcast #284: Plane Emergencies

Author: Erik Verzemneicks, M.D. Educational Pearls 1/600 flights has an on-board request for medical assistance. Most common complaints on board include: syncope, respiratory complaints, and GI compl...

29 Joulu 20173min

Podcast #283: Snow Blindness

Podcast #283: Snow Blindness

Author: John Winkler, M.D. Educational Pearls Photokeratitis is a UV burn of the sclera and cornea, which can cause blindness. UV light causes eyelid swelling with diffuse scarring of the eye (wides...

27 Joulu 20173min

Podcast #282: EKG Changes in DKA

Podcast #282: EKG Changes in DKA

Author: Dave Rosenberg, M.D. Educational Pearls EKG changes that can be seen in DKA include ST elevation and peaked T-waves secondary to derangements in K levels. In DKA, serum K is high, but total ...

25 Joulu 20173min

Deep Dive #8: Wintertime Wilderness Medicine

Deep Dive #8: Wintertime Wilderness Medicine

Author: John Winkler, M.D. Dr. Winkler shares his knowledge of wilderness medicine and provides insight on how to prevent and treat conditions such as hypothermia, frostbite and sun blindness. More im...

18 Joulu 201729min

Podcast #281: Intracranial Hemorrhage Treatment

Podcast #281: Intracranial Hemorrhage Treatment

Podcast #281: Intracranial Hemorrhage Treatment Author: Don Stader, M.D. Educational Pearls Types of traumatic bleeds include subdural, epidural, and subarachnoid. Treatment for a traumatic bleed inc...

15 Joulu 20172min

Podcast #280: Isolated Aphasia in Stroke

Podcast #280: Isolated Aphasia in Stroke

Author: Aaron Lessen, M.D. Educational Pearls Patients with an ischemic stroke from occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery often present with aphasia in addition to other neurological deficits....

11 Joulu 20171min

Suosittua kategoriassa Tiede

tiedekulma-podcast
rss-mita-tulisi-tietaa
rss-poliisin-mieli
rss-duodecim-lehti
docemilia
utelias-mieli
filocast-filosofian-perusteet
rss-ammamafia
rss-astetta-parempi-elama-podcast
rss-luontopodi-samuel-glassar-tutkii-luonnon-ihmeita
rss-sosiopodi
rss-tiedetta-vai-tarinaa