Syrup of ipecacuanha: is it really useful?

Gastric Emptying Procedures in the Self-Poisoned Patient: Are we Forcing Gastric Content beyond the Pylorus?

A prospective, randomized, single-blind study was carried out to determine whether gastric content is forced into the small bowel when gastric-emptying procedures are employed in self-poisoned patients. They were asked to swallow barium-impregnated polythene pellets, immediately prior to either gastric lavage or ipecacuanha-induced emesis. A second group of patients, who did not require treatment, were used as controls. Sixty patients were recruited to the study. The data show a significant difference in the number of residual pellets in the small bowel of the treated group (n=40), when compared with the control group (P < 0.0001). There was no statistical difference in the number of pellets in the small bowel when the treated groups were compared with each other. In addition, the inefficiency of gastric-emptying procedures is highlighted; 58.5% of the total number of pellets ingested were retained in the gastrointestinal tract of the ipecacuanha-treated group, while 51.8% of total pellets ingested were retained in the gastric lavage-treated group.

Effects on a Poison Center's (PC) triage and follow-up after implementing the no Ipecac use policy

For years, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) had supported home use of syrup of Ipecac. However, due to mounting evidence that Ipecac use did not improve outcome nor reduce Emergency Department (ED) referrals, the AAP in November of 2003 issued a statement that Ipecac not be used for the home management of poison ingestion. To determine if the cessation of the use of Ipecac for home ingestions is associated with an increased number of follow-up calls, an increased time of observation at home and an increase in the number of ED referrals for care by poison center staff were administered. Fifty randomly selected pediatric (<6 years) cases that received Ipecac ("Ipecac" group) from January 1, 2003 to October 31, 2003 were selected for study. Up to two controls ("no Ipecac" group) were matched by age, amount ingested, and by toxin. Controls were selected from the 2004-2006 time period (Ipecac no longer in use). Fifty "Ipecac" cases and 84 "no Ipecac" controls were analyzed. The groups had no significant differences with respect to percent symptomatic, median time post-ingestion, mean age, and distribution of toxin categories (e.g., antidepressants, beta blockers, etc.). The "no Ipecac" group had nearly ten times the odds of ED referral compared to the "Ipecac" group, (OR = 9.9, 95%CI 3.3-32.2). The mean total hours of follow-up was not significantly different between the groups (diff = -1.1, t = -1.8, p = 0.07). The mean number of follow-up calls was significantly less in the "no Ipecac" group (diff = -1.4 calls, t = -6.8, p < 0.001). Toxicology consults were greater in the "no Ipecac" group (chi (2 )= 4.05, p = 0.04); however, consults were not associated with ED referral. For the time period from 2004 to 2006, the "no Ipecac" policy resulted in an increase in ED referrals at our center. While prior studies have shown that not using Ipecac did not affect clinical outcome, our research suggested that it may have initially influenced triaging outcome. Since the use of Ipecac by centers was once a commonly used home remedy for some ingestions (albeit without rigorously established efficacy), poison center personnel had to transition to the "no Ipecac" policy. Although our referrals increased during a transitional period of time, referral rates have since stabilized and returned to baseline.

Pediatric Toxicology

Pediatric patients present unique concerns in the field of medical toxicology. First, there are medicines that are potentially dangerous to small children, even when they are exposed to very small amounts. Clinicians should be wary of these drugs even when young patients present with accidental ingestions of apparently insignificant amounts. Next, over-the-counter laxatives and syrup of ipecac, although not commonly considered abused substances, may be misused in both the setting of Munchausen's syndrome by proxy and in adolescents who have eating disorders. Their use should be considered in any gastrointestinal illness of uncertain origin. Finally, as the use of syrup of ipecac at home now has been discouraged by many, some have explored using activated charcoal at home as a new method of prehospital gastrointestinal decontamination. The literature examining activated charcoal and its use in this capacity is discussed.

Toxicology in the critically ill patient

Intoxications present in many forms including: known drug overdose or toxic exposure, illicit drug use, suicide attempt, accidental exposure, and chemical or biological terrorism. A high index of suspicion and familiarity with toxidromes can lead to early diagnosis and intervention in critically ill, poisoned patients. Despite a paucity of evidence-based information on the management of intoxicated patients, a rational and systematic approach can be life saving.

Home syrup of ipecac use does not reduce emergency department use or improve outcome

BACKGROUND

The usefulness of syrup of ipecac as a home treatment for poisoning and the need to keep it in the home has been increasingly challenged. Many poison centers do not recommend any use of syrup of ipecac.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if use of syrup of ipecac in children at home is associated with reduced utilization of emergency department (ED) resources or improved outcome after unintended exposure to a pharmaceutical.

DESIGN

Cohort comparison.

SETTING

American Association of Poison Control Centers' Toxic Exposure Surveillance System Database.

PATIENTS

Blinded data for each of the 64 US poison centers included ED referral recommendation rate, actual rate of ED use, actual home use of syrup of ipecac, and outcome. These data were derived from cases in 2000 and 2001 involving children <6 years of age who unintentionally ingested a pharmaceutical agent and in which the call to a poison center came from home (752 602 children).

OUTCOME MEASURES

Correlation between rate of home use of syrup of ipecac and rate of recommendation for ED referral was the primary outcome sought. Rate of adverse outcome was also compared. In addition, the actual ED use and home syrup of ipecac utilization rates at 7 specific centers were identified and compared with the published rates from these same centers from 1990 data to look for the trend in practice for this subgroup.

RESULTS

Mean rate of referral to ED was 9% (range: 3%-18%). Mean home use of syrup of ipecac was 1.8% (range: 0.2%-14%). Increased home use of syrup of ipecac was not associated with referral to ED (r = 0.18; 95% confidence interval of r = -0.06-0.41). Adverse outcome was rare: 0.6% (range: 0.2%-2.1%). There was no difference in referral rate or adverse outcome rate between 2 groups of 32 centers divided by relative syrup of ipecac use. In the 7 centers, ED use decreased from a mean of 13.5% in 1990 to a mean of 8.1% in 2000-2001. Ipecac use decreased from a mean of 9.6% to 2.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests there is no reduction in resource utilization or improvement in patient outcome from the use of syrup of ipecac at home. Although these data cannot exclude a benefit in a very limited set of poisonings, any benefit remains to be proven.

Adult toxicology in critical care: part I: general approach to the intoxicated patient

Intensivists are confronted with poisoned patients on a routine basis, with clinical scenarios ranging from known drug overdose or toxic exposure, illicit drug use, suicide attempt, or accidental exposure. In addition, drug toxicity can also manifest in hospitalized patients from inappropriate dosing and drug interactions. In this review article, we describe the epidemiology of poisoning in the United States, review physical examination findings and laboratory data that may aid the intensivist in recognizing a toxidrome (symptom complex of specific poisoning) or specific poisoning, and describe a rational and systematic approach to the poisoned patient. It is important to recognize that there is a paucity of evidence-based information on the management of poisoned patient. However, the most current recommendations by the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology and European Association of Poisons Centers and Clinical Toxicologists will be reviewed. Specific poisonings will be reviewed in the second section of these review articles.

Management of drug overdoses in accident and emergency departments in the United Kingdom

A questionnaire consisting of 10 overdose scenarios was sent to 190 career accident and emergency staff in the United Kingdom, asking in each case how the respondents would treat a patient to prevent drug absorption. The responses showed lack of consensus in treatment methods. There was extensive use of both ipecacuanha induced emesis and gastric lavage despite a lack of experimental evidence to support these techniques.

Home use of syrup of ipecac is associated with a reduction in pediatric emergency department visits

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine whether home use of syrup of ipecac is safe and effective in reducing pediatric emergency department visits.

DESIGN

Retrospective, multicenter comparison based on secondary use of a large database.

PARTICIPANTS

Children younger than 6 years after acute, accidental ingestion of a pharmaceutical product.

INTERVENTIONS

1990 Data corresponding to the study patients from seven regional poison centers were obtained from the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Poison center management choices (particularly use of syrup of ipecac for home decontamination) and characteristics (distribution of pharmaceutical ingestions managed, work volume per staff, staff experience, and training of decision-making director) were analyzed for their impact on the decision to refer a patient to a health care facility or to manage the patient at home. Statistical techniques included weighted least-squares regression analysis using logistic transformation of dependent variables and the forward selection procedure. Adverse patient outcome was defined as moderate effect, major effect, or death (American Association of Poison Control Centers coding criteria).

RESULTS

In all, 55,436 children were included in the analysis (range, 3,839 to 12,691 per poison center). The distribution of medications ingested was similar among centers. Increased home use of syrup of ipecac, decreased frequency of ingestion of "high-risk" drugs, and increased staff experience were associated with decreased referral to a health care facility (P < .0001 for each variable). The forward selection procedure determined that syrup of ipecac use explained 45% of the variation in the poison center referral rates. The percentage of drugs defined as high-risk accounted for an additional 31%, and staff experience accounted for another 10% of the variation. Outcome of patients was excellent. No child died. Two home-managed patients had a major effect, and 26 had a moderate effect.

CONCLUSION

Centers that recommended home use of syrup of ipecac more frequently were able to manage childhood poisoning more cost-effectively, without a decrease in safety. Although increased home management was strongly associated with syrup of ipecac use, the reason for this relationship cannot be determined from the data. Management by experienced professionals also contributed to cost-effectiveness.

Prevention of drug absorption in simulated theophylline overdose

1. The effects of emesis, gastric lavage and oral activated charcoal on theophylline absorption were compared in healthy volunteers. 2. One of four regimes (ipecacuanha-induced emesis, gastric lavage, oral activated charcoal and no treatment) was randomly chosen one hour after a simulated overdose with sustained-release theophylline on four separate occasions in twelve healthy volunteers. 3. Syrup of ipecacuanha produced emesis in all twelve volunteers but only seven vomited any tablets. Gastric lavage yielded tablets in only one volunteer. 4. The mean systemic availabilities (areas under the concentration-time curves relative to control) of theophylline for ipecacuanha-induced emesis, gastric lavage and charcoal, were 107.1%, 101.1% and 16.9%, respectively. 5. Oral activated charcoal was thus highly effective, while gastric lavage and emesis were ineffective in preventing theophylline absorption. Activated charcoal is potentially the most effective first-line treatment for acute overdosage with sustained-release theophylline tablets.

Prevention of drug absorption in simulated theophylline overdose

To assess the effectiveness of oral activated charcoal and catharsis in preventing theophylline absorption, 12 healthy subjects, aged 20-35 years, received 3 x 200 mg sustained-release theophylline tablets and 16 radio-opaque placebo tablets on six occasions. On each occasion, they received either no treatment (control) or one of five treatments. Treatments were a) oral activated charcoal (Carbomix): 50 g at 1 h, 25 g at 5 h and 9 h; b) sorbitol 70%: 150 mL at 1 h; c) activated charcoal: 50 g at 6 h, 25 g at 10 h and 14 h; d) sorbitol 70%: 150 mL at 6 h; e) charcoal commencing at 6 h plus sorbitol at 6 h (i.e. a combination of treatments c and d). Plasma theophylline concentrations were measured and all stools collected over 36 h to assess placebo tablet recovery by radiography. Charcoal administration at 1 h was 91.2% effective in preventing theophylline absorption and at 6 h was 57.3% effective, while combined charcoal and catharsis at 6 h was 63.3% effective. Sorbitol-induced catharsis at 1 h and 6 h did not reduce theophylline absorption despite greater tablet recovery. Oral activated charcoal may be the most effective treatment for sustained-release theophylline overdose, with maximum benefit when administered soon after an overdose, though later administration might still be of value. Sorbitol catharsis is of no benefit either alone or in combination with charcoal.

Suspected paediatric pesticide poisoning in the UK. II--Home Accident Surveillance System 1989-1991

1. Between 1989 and 1991, 121,708 children less than 10 years old attended 22 Accident and Emergency (A & E) Departments in the UK as a result of an accident at home; 6,478 of these were cases of suspected poisoning. 2. Two hundred and fifty (124 boys and 126 girls) of 6,478 cases involved pesticides. Forty two per cent of these children were thought to have been poisoned by rodenticides, 33% by a different animal poison, 13% by an herbicide or fungicide, 7% by creosote and 5% by mothballs; a pattern similar to that observed in previous years. 3. Fifty-seven of 250 children (23%) were admitted to hospital. The proportion of children admitted to hospital between 1989 and 1991 is smaller than that observed between 1982-1988 (37%). Forty-six per cent of children were discharged home within one day and 95% within 2 days, whereas between 1982 and 1988 only 35% of children were discharged within one day. No child died during the study confirming the low morbidity. 4. Using these data we estimate that between 1989 and 1991 approximately 1,500 children annually attended an A & E Department in the UK with a diagnosis of suspected pesticide poisoning and that some 350 children were admitted each year.

Acetaminophen ingestion in childhood--cost and relative risk of alternative referral strategies

Acetaminophen is the pharmaceutical most frequently ingested by small children. Although past research has allowed the safe management of 90% of these ingestions at home, several thousand are still referred to emergency departments annually. With the goal of further reducing the number of unnecessary referrals, the risk/benefit considerations of alternate referral strategies were analyzed. In a retrospective poison center chart review study from 11 centers, the records of children between the ages 1 and 6 years who acutely ingested acetaminophen and were referred to a hospital for determination of serum acetaminophen concentration in 1986 and 1987 were identified using the database of the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Risk of hepatic injury was assigned on the basis of the Rumack-Matthew acetaminophen toxicity nomogram. The cohort was stratified in terms of the amount ingested and whether a pediatric or adult preparation was ingested. The direct cost of an evaluation was estimated from four centers. Sensitivity, specificity and direct cost of each risk identification strategy were calculated. Eight hundred sixty six of 2091 patients had a timed serum acetaminophen concentration recorded. Of these, three patients had results in the "probable risk" area of the nomogram. A referral reduction strategy which would refer only children who ingest 200 mg/kg or more of an adult preparation could eliminate 82% of referrals without missing any of these "probable risk" patients. Six other children were determined to have serum acetaminophen concentrations in an area of the nomogram labeled "possible risk". No referral reduction strategy explored identified all of these patients. The average charge for an emergency department evaluation in 1992 was $272.00. These data suggest that children less than six years of age who ingest pediatric acetaminophen products other than those from packages containing greater than 30 tablets or who ingest less than 200 mg/kg of an adult preparation may be safely managed at home without referral to a hospital. This strategy would result in significant cost savings and prevent unnecessary inconvenience to many patients and families.

Class III antiarrhythmics in overdose. Presenting features and management principles

Class III (Vaughan-Williams classification) antiarrhythmic drugs prolong the cardiac action potential without affecting depolarisation. The 3 class III drugs currently in general use are amiodarone, sotalol and bretylium. The presenting features of acute toxicity are different for each agent and are, therefore, discussed separately. Several new class III antiarrhythmic agents are under development, including dofetilide and d-sotalol, but specific data on overdoses of these potent class III drugs are not yet available. Amiodarone toxicity following acute overdose is rare because poor bioavailability and a large volume of distribution limit the peak serum concentration. Toxicity is low even if high serum concentrations are reached. The major risks from acute overdose are hypotension (intravenous administration only) and arrhythmia if other factors, such as hypokalaemia or additional antiarrhythmic agents are present. Management is chiefly directed at reducing absorption with activated charcoal or cholestyramine, and monitoring for arrhythmia. Sotalol is a beta-blocker with additional class III activity. Oral bioavailability is high, and overdosed patients can present with bradycardia, hypotension and major haemodynamic collapse. The combination of bradycardia and prolongation of the QT interval is associated with malignant arrhythmias such as torsade de pointes. Management principles include observation and correction of bradycardia with endocardial pacing, intravenous adrenergic drugs and glucagon. The risk of arrhythmia can be substantially reduced by intravenous potassium and magnesium supplements. d-Sotalol is a potent class III drug devoid of beta-blocking activity and may be expected to share the proarrhythmic affects of the racemic mixture in overdose, without pronounced hypotension and bradycardia. Intravenous bretylium in overdose causes an initial hypertensive effect, followed by profound hypotension from systemic vasodilation. Management is directed at controlling hypotension with volume expansion and norepinephrine (noradrenaline).

Influence of time until emesis on the efficacy of decontamination using acetaminophen as a marker in a pediatric population

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine the extent of drug removal by emesis at different times after the ingestion of a toxic substance.

DESIGN

Multicenter retrospective chart review.

METHODS

Using the American Association of Poison Control Centers' aggregate data base, children who had ingested acetaminophen and who were referred to a health care facility by one of 11 poison centers during a two-year period were identified. Charts of these patients were reviewed to determine the quantity ingested per kilogram of body weight, method of decontamination used, the timing of decontamination, and the serum acetaminophen concentration obtained four hours after ingestion.

RESULT

Charts of 455 patients met all requirements for inclusion. When emesis occurred within one-half hour after ingestion, mean serum acetaminophen concentration drawn four hours after ingestion was approximately half that in a control group that received no decontamination. Emesis had less impact when it was delayed further and had no demonstrable impact when it occurred more than 90 minutes after ingestion.

CONCLUSION

Many factors must be considered when deciding if and by what method a given patient should receive decontamination. When delayed gastric emptying is not expected, emesis can at best decrease a toxic burden by half if it occurs early. Medical care givers must continue to scrutinize management practice to ensure that syrup of ipecac is given only in situations in which it is likely to make a difference in outcome and in which it is the most effective agent to achieve this goal.

Prevention of chloroquine absorption by activated charcoal

1. The ability of activated charcoal to prevent the absorption of chloroquine was investigated in healthy volunteers, and the effect of the charcoal-chloroquine ratio on the completeness of binding was studied in vitro. 2. After an overnight fast, six subjects ingested 500 mg of chloroquine phosphate with water, and another group of six subjects ingested 25 g of charcoal suspension within 5 min of chloroquine intake. The concentrations of chloroquine in plasma and whole blood were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography for 192 h. 3. Activated charcoal reduced the areas under the plasma and whole blood chloroquine concentration-time curves (AUC) from 0 to 192 h, the total AUCs, and the peak concentrations by 99% (P less than 0.001). 4. Chloroquine was very effectively bound by activated charcoal in vitro, even at low charcoal-chloroquine ratios. For example, at a ratio of 5:1, about 98% of chloroquine was bound. 5. Activated charcoal should be very effective in reducing the absorption of that fraction of chloroquine dose which is in the stomach at the time of charcoal administration. Because the acute toxicity of chloroquine is extremely high and death usually occurs within 1-3 h of overdosage, charcoal should be given as early as possible in suspected chloroquine intoxication.

Effect of activated charcoal on the absorption of amiodarone

1 The ability of activated charcoal to prevent the absorption of amiodarone was studied in 18 healthy volunteers, divided into three groups of six subjects. 2 All subjects were administered a single dose of 400 mg amiodarone; one group ingested the drug with water only (control) and the second with 25 g of activated charcoal as a water suspension. The subjects in the third group were given 25 g of charcoal immediately after the 1.5 h blood sample. 3 The extent of amiodarone absorption was reduced by about 98% by simultaneously administered charcoal (P less than 0.001); taking charcoal 1.5 h after amiodarone still resulted in a 50% reduction in amiodarone bioavailability (P less than 0.05). 4 These results indicate that activated charcoal should be effective in preventing amiodarone absorption in acute poisoning.

Use of whole bowel irrigation in an infant following iron overdose

An 11-month-old, 11-kg infant presented to the emergency department after ingesting 130 to 150 mg/kg of elemental iron. Emesis was induced twice and the child was lavaged throughout a 4-hour period with some tablet return. An abdominal radiograph after gastrointestinal decontamination showed at least 16 whole iron tablets remaining in the stomach. Serum iron drawn 2 hours postingestion was 46.7 mumol/L. Blood glucose was 7.7 mmol/L and white blood count was 21,800 mm3. Despite a second lavage 8 hours postingestion, a large number of whole tablets were visualized in the stomach per radiograph. Whole bowel irrigation with polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage solution (Golytely, Braintree Laboratories, Inc, Braintree, MA) was begun via nasogastric tube 14 hours after the ingestion. Serial abdominal radiographs showed tablet movement out of the stomach within 4 hours after initiating whole bowel irrigation. This case demonstrates the safety and efficacy of WBI in an infant when conventional gastrointestinal decontamination has failed.

Residual gastric content after gastric lavage and ipecacuanha-induced emesis in self-poisoned patients: an endoscopic study

Flexible endoscopy was used to assess the intragastric residue after either ipecacuanha-induced emesis or gastric lavage in 30 self-poisoned patients. Of the 13 patients treated by induced-emesis, five (38.5%) had residual solid in the stomach; 17 patients were treated by gastric washout, and 15 (88.2%) of these had residual intragastric solid. The study provides direct evidence that the gastric decontaminating procedures employed, and especially gastric lavage, do not remove stomach contents completely.

A comparison of the efficacy of gastric lavage, ipecacuanha and activated charcoal in the emergency management of paracetamol overdose

The aim of this prospective trial was to compare the efficacy of gastric lavage, activated charcoal and ipecacuanha at limiting the absorption of paracetamol in overdose and to assess the significance of the continued absorption of paracetamol following treatment. Patients aged 16 and over who had ingested 5 gms or more of paracetamol within 4h of admission were entered into the trial. The percentage fall in plasma paracetamol level was used as the measure of the success of a treatment at limiting absorption. The mean percentage fall was 39.3 for gastric lavage, 52.2 for activated charcoal and 40.7 for ipecacuanha, with a significant difference between the treatment methods (p = 0.03). Activated charcoal was more effective at limiting the absorption of paracetamol following overdose than either gastric lavage or ipecacuanha induced emesis. In treated patients continuing paracetamol absorption is not significant if more than 2h have elapsed since ingestion.

Role of extracorporeal drug removal in acute theophylline poisoning. A review

Theophylline, with its narrow therapeutic margin, is a common cause of iatrogenic and deliberate overdose. Most cases of self-poisoning are with sustained release preparations, with peak concentrations occurring up to 12 or more hours after overdose. Toxic symptoms are often seen at concentrations above 15 mg/L. Theophylline is metabolised within the cytochrome P-450 system, with an average total body clearance of 50 to 60 ml/min. Clearance is, however, affected by many factors such as other drugs or disease, and in overdose zero order kinetics may result in prolonged half-lives. Toxicity is characterised by agitation, tremor, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pains, seizures, and tachyarrhythmias. Hypokalaemia and metabolic acidosis are more profound in acute toxicity, and hypercalcaemia is usually present. Seizures occur at lower concentrations after chronic over-medication than after acute overdose. Gastric lavage should be performed in all patients presenting early, and an oral multiple dose charcoal regimen started with 50 to 100g charcoal, repeating with 50g doses and checking theophylline concentrations at 2- to 4-hour intervals. Multiple dose charcoal can be expected to double the clearance of theophylline, being as effective as a haemodialysis. Of the invasive techniques available, charcoal haemoperfusion is the most effective, increasing clearance 4- to 6-fold. Supportive care is particularly important. The aggressive supplementation of potassium, treatment of emesis with droperidol and ranitidine, and treatment of tachyarrhythmias and hypotension (possibly with propranolol), together with oral multiple dose charcoal may obviate the need for haemoperfusion. Seizures suggest increased morbidity and mortality. Charcoal haemoperfusion should be considered if plasma concentrations are greater than 100 mg/L in an acute intoxication or greater than 60 mg/L in a chronic intoxication. The decision to haemoperfuse should not be based on plasma concentrations alone, but an overall evaluation of the patient's laboratory and clinical status.