Episode 3

Toddler Time Bombs (Poison Center Triage)

Ryan and Toxo cover some topics off the "one pill can kill" list, try breaking down the toxic mechanism of opioid induced respiratory depression in a simplistic way (but maybe fail), and walk through the triage and management of poison center case where a child was "potentially" exposed to a lethal toxin at home.

Case Report

"One Pill Can Kill" Resources

  1. Missouri Poison Center resource guide:http://missouripoisoncenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/2011-One-Pill-Can-Kill.pdf
  2. Pediatric poison prevention article:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16419734/
  3. HealthyChildren.org guide on medication safety:https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/medication-safety/Pages/Poison-Prevention-One-Pill-Can-Kill.aspx

Respiratory Centers and Drug Effects

Buprenorphine Studies

Epidemiology

  1. AAPCC Annual Report on poisoning trends:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31752545/
  2. Trends in pediatric opioid exposures:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32178937/
  3. Trends in ED visits for unsupervised medication exposures:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26347435/

Exposure Studies

  1. U.S. Poison Center data on buprenorphine: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29941678/
  2. Harvard Emergency Medicine group analysis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27756148/
  3. Maryland Poison Center/RADARS data:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18381506/
  4. ICU exposures in children:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20921918/

Triage Considerations for Pediatric Exposures

  • Symptoms: What are the current symptoms and their severity?
  • Causative Agent & Exposure Characteristics: What substance was ingested, and in what quantity? What’s the context of the exposure?
  • History: Includes past medical history, patient weight, and the time elapsed since exposure.
  • Onset: When are symptoms expected to appear?
  • Labs: Perform toxin-specific assessments where applicable.
  • Aggravating/Remitting Factors: What interventions have already been performed, and how have they affected the patient?

If you have questions about these studies or poisoning scenarios, consult your local poison center or toxicologist. Thank you for tuning in!

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About the Podcast

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The Poison Lab
Explore the world of poisoning with Clinical Toxicologist Ryan Feldman and Cohost Toxo, dive into the history, science, and life-saving care of poisoning. Survivor stories, expert insights, and deep dives—every poison has a story to tell!

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Ryan Feldman

Dr. Ryan Feldman PharmD, DABAT is the chief scientist at The Poison Lab. He works as a Clinical Toxicologist, Emergency Medicine Pharmacist, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy and Emergency medicine.

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