Thursday, September 15, 2011


The most memorable day of my life when I am felicitated by my students (PGT) for geting the FELLOW of National Foundation of Clinical Forensic Medicine, awarded to me for my incision technique “Fourth Incision: The Cosmetic Autopsy Technique”.
Thank you students, thank you all.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Toxidromes



What is a toxidrome
       It is the association of several clinically recognizable features, signs, symptoms, phenomena or characteristics which often occur together, so that the presence of one feature alerts the physician to the presence of the others.
The cholinergic toxidrome
Syndrome
Signs &Symptoms
Poisons
Antidote
Cholinergic SLUDGE
•      Salivation
•      Lacrimation
•      Urination
•      Diarrhoea
•      GI cramps
•      Emesis
•      Wheezing
•      Diaporesis
•      Bronchorrhoea
•      Bradycardia
•      Miosis
•      Carbamate
•      Organophosphates
•      Physostigmine
•      Pilocarpine
•      Atropine
•      Pralidoxime for organophosphates



The anticholinergic toxidrome
Syndrome
Signs &Symptoms
Poisons
Antidote
Anticholinergic
Hot as a hare
Dry as a bone
Red as a beet
Mad as a hatter
Blind as a bat
•      Mydriasis
•      Blurred vision
•      Fever
•      Dry skin
•      Flushing
•      Ileus
•      Urinary retention
•      Tachycardia
•      Hypertension
•      Psychosis
•      Coma
•      Seizures
•      Myoclonus
•      Antihistamines
•      Atropine
•      Baclofen
•      Benztropine
•      Tricyclic
        antidepressants
•      Phenothiazines
•      Propantheline
•      Scopolamine  
• Physostigmine

 (do not use in cyclic antidepressant overdose as will worsen conduction disturbances)



Hallucinogenic Sympathomimetic toxidrome
Syndrome
Signs &Symptoms
Poisons
Antidote
Hallucinogenic
•      Disorientation
•      Hallucinations
•      Hyperactive Bowel
•      Panic
•      Seizure
•      Tachycardia
•      Hypertension
•      Tachypnoea
•      Amphetamine
•      Cocaine
•      Pseudoephedrine
•      Phencyclidine
•      Ephedrine  
•      Benzodiazepines


Sedative/hypnotic toxidrome
Syndrome
Signs &Symptoms
Poisons
Antidote
Sedative / hypnotic
•      Stupor & coma
•      Confusion
•      Slurred speech
•      Apnoea
•      Anticonvulsants
•      Antipsychotics
•      Barbiturates
•      Benzodiazepines
•      Ethanol
•      Meprobamate
•      Opiates
•      Naloxone
•      Flumazenil
•      Urinary alkanisation for Phenobarbital


Opiate toxidrome
Syndrome
Signs &Symptoms
Poisons
Antidote
Narcotic
•      Altered mental status
•      Slow shallow breaths
•      Meiosis
•      Bradycardia
•      Hypotension
•      Hypothermia
•      Decreased bowel sounds
•   Dextromethorphan
•   Opiates
•   Pentazocine
•   Propoxyphene
•      Nalaoxone


Serotonergic syndrome
Syndrome
Signs &Symptoms
Poisons
Antidote
Serotonergic
•   Irritability
•   Hyperreflexia
•   Flushing
•   Diarrhoea
•   Diaphoresis
•   Fever
•   Trismus
•   Tremor
•   Myoclonus
•      Fluoxetine
•      Meperidine
•      Paroxetine
•      Trazodone
•      Clomipramine
•      Benzodiazepine