You are working in the emergency
department when a patient arrives after
an overdose of diazepam pills. She has
slightly slurred speech and states, "I lost
count of how many pills I took." What is
the first step you would take in care of
this patient?
A Naloxone intravenously
B Charcoal followed by ipecac 30
centimeters orally Item
C Flumazenil intravenously
D Respiratory and blood pressure
support
D. The first step in treating
benzodiazepine overdose is to monitor
blood pressure and give respiratory
support. Although flumazenil
intravenously (IV) is recommended for
treating benzodiazepine overdoses, it is
not the first-line treatment because risks
(e.g., withdrawal, seizures) may
outweigh benefits. Charcoal and ipecac,
no matter which agent comes first, are
not recommended as first-line measures
for gastrointestinal decontamination
management in benzodiazepine
overdose, as this may lead to aspiration
in this patient and should occur only
after respiratory support has been
established. Intravenous naloxone is
recommended for narcotic toxicity, such
as the kind caused by codeine, heroin,
morphine, or opium.
A 54-year-old former professional
athlete is being screened for
hypertension, a condition which runs in
his family. Which of the following
findings is not consistent with a
diagnosis of hypertension?
A. Epistaxis
B. A suboccipital headache
C. Blurred vision
D. An S3 heart sound
Category | exam bundles |
Comments | 0 |
Rating | |
Sales | 0 |