Paracetamol overdose is a common presentation in A&E and so you may often find yourself looking after them. The information below is to help give you an overview. This article (like all other content on this site) is only for medical professionals. For management, use Toxbase, the login should be on your trust intranet or
As the FY1, you will see patients with liver dysfunction either on the take or deranged LFTs when you are reviewing bloods. A focused approach can save you time & help you find the likely underlying cause to start investigating. It can also help you identify red flags that prompt urgent escalation. Red flags (urgent
AKI is very common affecting around 20% of inpatients & it is important to recognise promptly and correctly to avoid complications. In this article, we give a quick overview of the assessment and management followed by detailed information on each step. Quick Overview Severity: Graded by the extent of creatinine rise from baseline or the
Defined as a collection of electrolyte abnormalities associated with a massive intracellular shift of electrolytes. Associated with aggressive nutritional rehabilitation of malnourished patients in e.g. malignancy, chronic organ dysfunction, inflammatory conditions (e.g. pancreatitis, colitis), the perioperative period as well as anorexia nervosa. Clinical features Sequelae of hypophosphataemia, hypokalaemia, hypocalcaemia, hypomagnesaemia, e.g.Congestive heart failure, peripheral oedema,
Hypophosphatemia is a serum phosphate concentration < 2.5 mg/dL (0.81 mmol/L). Mild hypophosphatemia is somewhat common and usually isn’t a cause for concern however severe hypophosphatemia can be life-threatening and requires medical treatment. The UK Medicines Information group have provided excellent guidance on how to replace phosphate. Clinical features Causes Investigations Treatment References & further reading By
Alongside strengthening bone, calcium is used in the clotting cascade, in muscle contraction, and in nerve-signalling. As such, low levels can lead to coagulopathy, smooth and skeletal muscle-spasms, heart problems, altered sensation and even seizures. Acute hypocalcaemia that is severe (<1.9 mmol/L) or symptomatic can be life-threatening and necessitates urgent treatment. It is often initially
