why is it important to know if overdoes was staggered or all at once for paracetamol
in single acute overdoses (all at once), treatment decisions are based on the paracetamol level plotted against time on the nomogram (Rumack-Matthew Nomogram)
BUT in staggered overdoses:
The nomogram cannot be used reliably because there is no clear time of ingestion.
Blood paracetamol levels might appear low or normal — even when liver toxicity is already happening.
Risk of delayed liver injury is much higher than in single ingestions.
staggered OD definition
A staggered overdose happens when the person takes multiple doses of paracetamol over time (usually over >1 hour, typically over several hours or even days) rather than in one single overdose.
Symptoms of liver injury in paracetamol
nausea, vomiting, RUQ pain, raised ALT)
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INR AND PARACETAMOL
remember the liver makes clotting factors and so t inhibits some clotting factors especially number 7 so it takes the blood longer to clot.
but its normal to have raised INR in the absence of hepatic injury but if its raised a LOT then this could mean significant liver injury.
in early phases INR MAY BE NOMRAL e,g less than 24 hours since overdose
chat GPT? if at any point it reaches >1.3 start nac regardless of paracetamol level
WHICH LIVER MARKER IS MORE SPECIFIC
ALT
ast - found in other places, like muscles so wil increase in muscle damage
a normal iNR
0.8-1.2
2-3 - PEOPLE ON WARFARIN
aspirin overdoes triad
what would vbg show and explain why
NEED TO REVISE MMORE
tinnitus
vomiting
mild - just some gi upset
moderate /sevre- resp alkalosis and metabolic acisods
primary resp alkaloisis then later metabolic acidosis
TREATMENT FOR SALISCYLATES OVERDOSE
URINARY ALKINALISATION BY GIVEN BICARB
BENZOS IF SEIZURES