ABSTRACT
The consumption of betel nuts causes a cholinergic effect and the nuts are widely consumed in Asia for their psychostimulative effect. Regardless, only few reports on intoxication exist. This case report describes a 27-year-old man who was found unconscious after consumption of a vast amount of betel nuts in conjunction with home-distilled alcohol. Although definite cardiac arrest was never confirmed, the patient woke up after several cycles of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Afterwards, he experienced blurry vision which was ascribed to cholinergic-induced accommodation paresis. The patient was later discharged with full remission.
Subject(s)
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation , Heart Arrest , Male , Humans , Adult , Areca , Heart Arrest/chemically induced , Heart Arrest/therapy , Vision DisordersABSTRACT
Hyperthermia is a severe complication to intake of methamphetamines due to generalised overactivation of metabolism and muscle activity combined with vasoconstriction. In this case report, a patient presented to the emergency department after injection of 2 g "crystal meth", and advanced into fatal hyperthermia and organ failure in the intensive care unit. Treatment of substance-induced hyperthermia is symptomatic and reducing metabolism with benzodiazepines and actively lowering body temperature with ice packs and cold intravenous fluids are appropriate interventions. Dantrolene may be used but is still to be properly investigated.
Subject(s)
Hyperthermia, Induced , Malignant Hyperthermia , Methamphetamine , Humans , Fatal Outcome , Hyperthermia, Induced/adverse effectsABSTRACT
Orogastric aspiration (OA) without orogastric lavage has been the traditional gastric emptying method of choice in Denmark; this being based on national historic studies on poisoned patients. The treatment is still observed to be initiated prior to consultations with the Danish poisons information centre. In this review, we present relevant knowledge in the field of OA. The procedure should only be considered in very limited cases and never routinely. Also, an algorithm is presented for its rare use in relation to other more effective gastrointestinal decontamination methods.
