6.5.1) PREVENTION OF ABSORPTION/PREHOSPITAL
A) ACTIVATED CHARCOAL 1) PREHOSPITAL ACTIVATED CHARCOAL ADMINISTRATION a) Consider prehospital administration of activated charcoal as an aqueous slurry in patients with a potentially toxic ingestion who are awake and able to protect their airway. Activated charcoal is most effective when administered within one hour of ingestion. Administration in the prehospital setting has the potential to significantly decrease the time from toxin ingestion to activated charcoal administration, although it has not been shown to affect outcome (Alaspaa et al, 2005; Thakore & Murphy, 2002; Spiller & Rogers, 2002). 1) In patients who are at risk for the abrupt onset of seizures or mental status depression, activated charcoal should not be administered in the prehospital setting, due to the risk of aspiration in the event of spontaneous emesis.
2) The addition of flavoring agents (cola drinks, chocolate milk, cherry syrup) to activated charcoal improves the palatability for children and may facilitate successful administration (Guenther Skokan et al, 2001; Dagnone et al, 2002).
2) CHARCOAL DOSE a) Use a minimum of 240 milliliters of water per 30 grams charcoal (FDA, 1985). Optimum dose not established; usual dose is 25 to 100 grams in adults and adolescents; 25 to 50 grams in children aged 1 to 12 years (or 0.5 to 1 gram/kilogram body weight) ; and 0.5 to 1 gram/kilogram in infants up to 1 year old (Chyka et al, 2005). 1) Routine use of a cathartic with activated charcoal is NOT recommended as there is no evidence that cathartics reduce drug absorption and cathartics are known to cause adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, electrolyte imbalances and occasionally hypotension (None Listed, 2004).
b) ADVERSE EFFECTS/CONTRAINDICATIONS 1) Complications: emesis, aspiration (Chyka et al, 2005). Aspiration may be complicated by acute respiratory failure, ARDS, bronchiolitis obliterans or chronic lung disease (Golej et al, 2001; Graff et al, 2002; Pollack et al, 1981; Harris & Filandrinos, 1993; Elliot et al, 1989; Rau et al, 1988; Golej et al, 2001; Graff et al, 2002). Refer to the ACTIVATED CHARCOAL/TREATMENT management for further information.
2) Contraindications: unprotected airway (increases risk/severity of aspiration) , nonfunctioning gastrointestinal tract, uncontrolled vomiting, and ingestion of most hydrocarbons (Chyka et al, 2005).
6.5.2) PREVENTION OF ABSORPTION
A) ACTIVATED CHARCOAL 1) APIXABAN a) PHARMACOKINETIC STUDY: In an open-label, three-treatment, three-period randomized, crossover study of single-dose apixaban (20 mg, high end of therapeutic dose range) in 18 healthy subjects, activated charcoal taken up to 6 hours after apixaban administration reduced exposure and elimination of apixaban. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 6 treatment sequences that included apixaban 20 mg, apixaban 20 mg with activated charcoal 50 g administered 2 hours post-dose and apixaban 20 mg with activated charcoal administered 6 hours post-dose. Blood samples were collected and pharmacokinetic parameters showed a mean half-life for apixaban alone (13.4 hours) decreased to approximately 5 hours when activated charcoal was given at 2 and 6 hours post-dose. Mean plasma concentrations following a 20 mg dose of apixaban were measurable up to 72 hours without activated charcoal but were reduced to 48 hours when activated charcoal was administered. In addition, activated charcoal administration at 2 and 6 hours post-dose reduced mean apixaban AUC by 50% and 28%, respectively (Wang et al, 2014).
2) CHARCOAL ADMINISTRATION a) Consider administration of activated charcoal after a potentially toxic ingestion (Chyka et al, 2005). Administer charcoal as an aqueous slurry; most effective when administered within one hour of ingestion.
3) CHARCOAL DOSE a) Use a minimum of 240 milliliters of water per 30 grams charcoal (FDA, 1985). Optimum dose not established; usual dose is 25 to 100 grams in adults and adolescents; 25 to 50 grams in children aged 1 to 12 years (or 0.5 to 1 gram/kilogram body weight) ; and 0.5 to 1 gram/kilogram in infants up to 1 year old (Chyka et al, 2005). 1) Routine use of a cathartic with activated charcoal is NOT recommended as there is no evidence that cathartics reduce drug absorption and cathartics are known to cause adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, electrolyte imbalances and occasionally hypotension (None Listed, 2004).
b) ADVERSE EFFECTS/CONTRAINDICATIONS 1) Complications: emesis, aspiration (Chyka et al, 2005). Aspiration may be complicated by acute respiratory failure, ARDS, bronchiolitis obliterans or chronic lung disease (Golej et al, 2001; Graff et al, 2002; Pollack et al, 1981; Harris & Filandrinos, 1993; Elliot et al, 1989; Rau et al, 1988; Golej et al, 2001; Graff et al, 2002). Refer to the ACTIVATED CHARCOAL/TREATMENT management for further information.
2) Contraindications: unprotected airway (increases risk/severity of aspiration) , nonfunctioning gastrointestinal tract, uncontrolled vomiting, and ingestion of most hydrocarbons (Chyka et al, 2005).
6.5.3) TREATMENT
A) MONITORING OF PATIENT 1) Monitor for evidence of bleeding (eg, venous access sites, urinary, gastrointestinal, vaginal).
2) Monitor serial hemoglobin and hematocrit in patients with suspected bleeding.
3) Monitor CBC with platelet count, vital signs, and liver enzymes in symptomatic patients.
4) Prothrombin time (PT) and aPTT are relatively insensitive in measuring the activity of rivaroxaban at therapeutic doses, but may be prolonged after overdose.
5) Plasma anti-factor Xa concentrations can be measured, but results are generally not available rapidly enough to use this to guide therapy.
B) BLEEDING 1) No antidote is available. If necessary, blood loss and reversal of bleeding tendency can be managed with packed red blood cells and cryoprecipitate or fresh frozen plasma.
C) EXPERIMENTAL THERAPY 1) TRANEXAMIC ACID a) CASE REPORT: An 82-year-old man with a history of coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation presented with persistent right-sided anterior epistaxis. Several weeks prior to admission he was changed from dabigatran to rivaroxaban due to an elevation in his serum creatinine. Upon admission, bleeding was limited to the right nasal septum and he was initially treated with topical silver nitrate. However, bleeding continued and several other measures were attempted including the insertion of a nasal tampon with thrombin solution applied, followed by nasal packing for ongoing oozing. After reassessment, bleeding was still present and the packing was removed. A cotton pledget soaked with 500 mg of tranexamic acid which was applied for 15 to 20 minutes and then removed without obvious bleeding. After a short-period, bleeding was again present and a double-balloon catheter was placed and bleeding eventually stopped. He was monitored for 3 hours with no further bleeding. Rivaroxaban was discontinued and the patient was maintained on aspirin per his cardiologist. The authors suggested that topical tranexamic acid may be useful as a treatment option in patients with epistaxis secondary to rivaroxaban therapy. Based on its mechanism of action, tranexamic acid can inhibit the binding of plasminogen to fibrin; thereby inhibiting the breakdown of a clot (Utkewicz et al, 2015).
D) ACUTE ALLERGIC REACTION 1) SUMMARY a) Mild to moderate allergic reactions may be treated with antihistamines with or without inhaled beta adrenergic agonists, corticosteroids or epinephrine. Treatment of severe anaphylaxis also includes oxygen supplementation, aggressive airway management, epinephrine, ECG monitoring, and IV fluids.
2) BRONCHOSPASM a) ALBUTEROL 1) ADULT: 2.5 to 5 milligrams in 2 to 4.5 milliliters of normal saline delivered per nebulizer every 20 minutes up to 3 doses. If incomplete response administer 2.5 to 10 mg every 1 to 4 hours as needed, or 10 to 15 mg/hr by continuous nebulization as needed (National Heart,Lung,and Blood Institute, 2007). CHILD: 0.15 milligram/kilogram (minimum 2.5 milligrams) per nebulizer every 20 minutes up to 3 doses. If incomplete response administer 0.15 to 0.3 mg/kg (up to 10 mg) every 1 to 4 hours as needed, or 0.5 mg/kg/hr by continuous nebulization (National Heart,Lung,and Blood Institute, 2007).
3) CORTICOSTEROIDS a) Consider systemic corticosteroids in patients with significant bronchospasm.
b) PREDNISONE: ADULT: 40 to 80 milligrams/day. CHILD: 1 to 2 milligrams/kilogram/day (maximum 60 mg) in 1 to 2 divided doses divided twice daily (National Heart,Lung,and Blood Institute, 2007).
4) MILD CASES a) DIPHENHYDRAMINE 1) SUMMARY: Oral diphenhydramine, as well as other H1 antihistamines can be used as indicated (Lieberman et al, 2010).
2) ADULT: 50 milligrams orally, or 10 to 50 mg intravenously at a rate not to exceed 25 mg/min or may be given by deep intramuscular injection. A total of 100 mg may be administered if needed. Maximum daily dosage is 400 mg (Prod Info diphenhydramine HCl intravenous injection solution, intramuscular injection solution, 2013).
3) CHILD: 5 mg/kg/24 hours or 150 mg/m(2)/24 hours. Divided into 4 doses, administered intravenously at a rate not exceeding 25 mg/min or by deep intramuscular injection. Maximum daily dosage is 300 mg (Prod Info diphenhydramine HCl intravenous injection solution, intramuscular injection solution, 2013).
5) MODERATE CASES a) EPINEPHRINE: INJECTABLE SOLUTION: It should be administered early in patients by IM injection. Using a 1:1000 (1 mg/mL) solution of epinephrine. Initial Dose: 0.01 mg/kg intramuscularly with a maximum dose of 0.5 mg in adults and 0.3 mg in children. The dose may be repeated every 5 to 15 minutes, if no clinical improvement. Most patients respond to 1 or 2 doses (Nowak & Macias, 2014).
6) SEVERE CASES a) EPINEPHRINE 1) INTRAVENOUS BOLUS: ADULT: 1 mg intravenously as a 1:10,000 (0.1 mg/mL) solution; CHILD: 0.01 mL/kg intravenously to a maximum single dose of 1 mg given as a 1:10,000 (0.1 mg/mL) solution. It can be repeated every 3 to 5 minutes as needed. The dose can also be given by the intraosseous route if IV access cannot be established (Lieberman et al, 2015). ALTERNATIVE ROUTE: ENDOTRACHEAL ADMINISTRATION: If IV/IO access is unavailable. DOSE: ADULT: Administer 2 to 2.5 mg of 1:1000 (1 mg/mL) solution diluted in 5 to 10 mL of sterile water via endotracheal tube. CHILD: DOSE: 0.1 mg/kg to a maximum of 2.5 mg administered as a 1:1000 (1 mg/mL) solution diluted in 5 to 10 mL of sterile water via endotracheal tube (Lieberman et al, 2015).
2) INTRAVENOUS INFUSION: Intravenous administration may be considered in patients poorly responsive to IM or SubQ epinephrine. An epinephrine infusion may be prepared by adding 1 mg (1 mL of 1:1000 (1 mg/mL) solution) to 250 mL D5W, yielding a concentration of 4 mcg/mL, and infuse this solution IV at a rate of 1 mcg/min to 10 mcg/min (maximum rate). CHILD: A dosage of 0.01 mg/kg (0.1 mL/kg of a 1:10,000 (0.1 mg/mL) solution up to 10 mcg/min (maximum dose 0.3 mg) is recommended for children (Lieberman et al, 2010). Careful titration of a continuous infusion of IV epinephrine, based on the severity of the reaction, along with a crystalloid infusion can be considered in the treatment of anaphylactic shock. It appears to be a reasonable alternative to IV boluses, if the patient is not in cardiac arrest (Vanden Hoek,TL,et al).
7) AIRWAY MANAGEMENT a) OXYGEN: 5 to 10 liters/minute via high flow mask.
b) INTUBATION: Perform early if any stridor or signs of airway obstruction.
c) CRICOTHYROTOMY: Use if unable to intubate with complete airway obstruction (Vanden Hoek,TL,et al).
d) BRONCHODILATORS are recommended for mild to severe bronchospasm.
e) ALBUTEROL: ADULT: 2.5 to 5 milligrams in 2 to 4.5 milliliters of normal saline delivered per nebulizer every 20 minutes up to 3 doses. If incomplete response administer 2.5 to 10 mg every 1 to 4 hours as needed, or 10 to 15 mg/hr by continuous nebulization as needed (National Heart,Lung,and Blood Institute, 2007).
f) ALBUTEROL: CHILD: 0.15 milligram/kilogram (minimum 2.5 milligrams) per nebulizer every 20 minutes up to 3 doses. If incomplete response administer 0.15 to 0.3 milligram/kilogram (maximum 10 milligrams) every 1 to 4 hours as needed OR administer 0.5 mg/kg/hr by continuous nebulization (National Heart,Lung,and Blood Institute, 2007).
8) MONITORING a) CARDIAC MONITOR: All complicated cases.
b) IV ACCESS: Routine in all complicated cases.
9) HYPOTENSION a) If hypotensive give 500 to 2000 milliliters crystalloid initially (20 milliliters/kilogram in children) and titrate to desired effect (stabilization of vital signs, mentation, urine output); adults may require up to 6 to 10 L/24 hours. Central venous or pulmonary artery pressure monitoring is recommended in patients with persistent hypotension. 1) VASOPRESSORS: Should be used in refractory cases unresponsive to repeated doses of epinephrine and after vigorous intravenous crystalloid rehydration (Lieberman et al, 2010).
2) DOPAMINE: Initial Dose: 2 to 20 micrograms/kilogram/minute intravenously; titrate to maintain systolic blood pressure greater than 90 mm Hg (Lieberman et al, 2010).
10) H1 and H2 ANTIHISTAMINES a) SUMMARY: Antihistamines are second-line therapy and are used as supportive therapy and should not be used in place of epinephrine (Lieberman et al, 2010). 1) DIPHENHYDRAMINE: ADULT: 25 to 50 milligrams via a slow intravenous infusion or IM. PEDIATRIC: 1 milligram/kilogram via slow intravenous infusion or IM up to 50 mg in children (Lieberman et al, 2010).
b) RANITIDINE: ADULT: 1 mg/kg parenterally; CHILD: 12.5 to 50 mg parenterally. If the intravenous route is used, ranitidine should be infused over 10 to 15 minutes or diluted in 5% dextrose to a volume of 20 mL and injected over 5 minutes (Lieberman et al, 2010). c) Oral diphenhydramine, as well as other H1 antihistamines, can also be used as indicated (Lieberman et al, 2010). 11) DYSRHYTHMIAS a) Dysrhythmias and cardiac dysfunction may occur primarily or iatrogenically as a result of pharmacologic treatment (epinephrine) (Vanden Hoek,TL,et al). Monitor and correct serum electrolytes, oxygenation and tissue perfusion. Treat with antiarrhythmic agents as indicated.
12) OTHER THERAPIES a) There have been a few reports of patients with anaphylaxis, with or without cardiac arrest, that have responded to vasopressin therapy that did not respond to standard therapy. Although there are no randomized controlled trials, other alternative vasoactive therapies (ie, vasopressin, norepinephrine, methoxamine, and metaraminol) may be considered in patients in cardiac arrest secondary to anaphylaxis that do not respond to epinephrine (Vanden Hoek,TL,et al).
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