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Biomedical subjects

R B McFee

Publications and source records attributed to R B McFee.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Intravenous mercury injection and ingestion: clinical manifestations and management.

BACKGROUND: Mercury is a complex toxin with clinical manifestations determined by the chemical form, route, dose, and acuity of the exposure. Parenteral injection of elemental mercury remains uncommon. CASE REPORT: A 40-year-old male injected 3 mL of elemental mercury intravenously and ingested 3 mL as a suicide attempt. Within 24 hours, he became dyspneic, febrile, tachycardic, and voiced mild gastrointestinal complaints. Chest X-ray revealed scattered pulmonary infiltrates and embolized mercury bilaterally. A ventilation/perfusion scan demonstrated ventilation/ perfusion deficits. Additionally, his renal function declined, as manifest by minor elevations in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine and decreased urine output. Pulmonary therapy, intravenous hydration, and chelation using 2,3-dimercaptoscuccinic acid (DMSA/Succimer) were started. Over the next 36 hours, the patient's pulmonary and renal functions improved. Temperature and heart rate subsequently normalized, and symptoms at discharge were mild exertional dyspnea. DISCUSSION: Liquid mercury injected intravenously embolizes to the pulmonary vasculature and perhaps vessels in other organs such as heart and kidney. In-situ oxidation to inorganic mercury, which is directly toxic to a variety of tissues, may help explain the multisystem involvement. CONCLUSION: Significant pulmonary dysfunction accompanied by radiographically demonstrated mercury emboli and temporary abnormalities in several organs improved shortly after initiation of chelation. The impact of chelation on long-term outcome of parenteral mercury exposure remains uncharacterized.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2001

Selected tricyclic antidepressant ingestions involving children 6 years old or less.

OBJECTIVE: According to the annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers, tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) ingestions accounted for 15,708 exposures in 1998, of which 70% (all age groups) were treated at health care facilities (HCFs), with an estimated 2,022 children less than 6 years of age exposed. The study objective was to evaluate the manifestations, referral patterns, HCF management, and medical outcomes in pediatric patients 6 years old or less with TCA ingestions reported to a regional poison control center. METHODS: All TCA (amitriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline) ingestions from January 1, 1993, to December 31, 1997, involving patients aged 6 years or less managed by the poison control center were evaluated for dose, symptoms, treatments, disposition, and outcome. RESULTS: Forty-four of 48 patients (92%) were asymptomatic. All were single-drug exposures. Forty-three patients (90%) ingested a TCA dose that was less than the normally prescribed pediatric dose (5 mg/kg). Of the five children ingesting >5 mg/kg (range 5-9.4 mg/kg), only one (5.3 mg/kg) was mildly symptomatic (drowsy) prior to admission. Thirty-one of the 48 (65%) were sent to the emergency department (dose range 0.59-9.4 mg/kg). Fourteen of the 31 were admitted for 12-24-hour observation and none subsequently developed symptoms. Twenty-three (74%) received activated charcoal (AC). There was no difference in outcome between the children who did and did not receive AC. CONCLUSIONS: No case of significant toxicity occurred in the children who experienced unintentional TCA ingestions in this study population. None of the children in the study had toxicity at doses <5 mg/kg. Further study is necessary to develop clinical guidelines for the appropriate referral of unintentional ingestions of TCA involving children.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2001

A nationwide survey of poison control centers comparing 1999 to 1998 triage and management of asymptomatic children who ingested tricyclic antidepressant.

Triage of asymptomatic, unintentional pediatric (< 6y) tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) exposures has been based upon single cases or small studies involving large dose, symptomatic ingestions. This study evaluated patterns of triage for asymptomatic pediatric TCA exposures as practiced nationally by regional centers and compared them to 1998 patterns. It also evaluated the role of activated charcoal in the management of these exposures. Surveys were sent to the 30 certified regional Poison Control Centers that responded to our 1998 survey. Twenty-two centers responded (73%). Fourteen (63%) referred to a health care facility based upon mg/kg, compared to 6 (20%) in 1998. Of the 14, 6 referred at doses >5 mg/kg compared to 2 (6.6%) in 1998. If referred to an emergency department, 18 (82%) recommended activated charcoal compared to 1 (3.3%) in 1998. The lowest toxic dose reported in the literature is 6.7 mg/kg. This is consistent with poison control data during the past 6y where no child became toxic at doses < 5 mg/kg. This survey demonstrated significant changes in triage patterns for asymptomatic pediatric TCA exposures.

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic↗
PubMed2000

A nationwide survey of the management of unintentional-low dose tricyclic antidepressant ingestions involving asymptomatic children: implications for the development of an evidence-based clinical guideline.

BACKGROUND: The triage of unintentional tricyclic and cyclic antidepressant ingestions involving children <6 years seems based on single cases or small studies. Walsh, in describing 2 cases involving 15-20 mg/kg ingestions, recommended hospitalizing all children ingesting tricyclic and cyclic antidepressants. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the patterns of triage for pediatric tricyclic and cyclic antidepressants practiced by regional poison control centers nationwide, and to determine the amount ingested (mg/kg) that resulted in referral to the emergency department, including the recommended duration of observation time for asymptomatic children. Second, to analyze the cost implications, as well as the need for a practice guideline based on severity stratification. METHODS: We sent a survey to 44 major regional poison control centers. We reviewed Health Care Financing Administration's tricyclic and cyclic antidepressants management related costs. RESULTS: Thirty centers responded (68%). Eighty-seven percent of all centers send children, regardless of dose ingested, to the emergency department. Four out of the 30 recommended observation based on dose in mg/ kg ingested (range >1.5-5). Recommended observation times in the emergency department varied between 6-24 hours. Twenty-seven (90%) Poison Control Centers recommended 6 hours (although one recommended doing so only after administering activated charcoal). One recommended 6-12 hours of observation and 2 Poison Control Centers recommended 24-hour observation. Only 1 center recommended obtaining tricyclic and cyclic antidepressant plasma levels. DISCUSSION: In our review of the literature, the lowest toxic dose reported was 6.7 mg/kg. This is consistent with our Poison Control Center data over the past 5 years where no child was toxic at doses <5 mg/kg. While only 13% of the centers surveyed utilize a stratification strategy to triage pediatric tricyclic and cyclic antidepressant ingestions, the current referral patterns support evaluation based on pharmacokinetics, not worst case incidents. CONCLUSION: This survey demonstrates that most children with tricyclic and cyclic antidepressant ingestions will be sent to the emergency department, regardless of the amount ingested. A prospective study is needed to determine the probable dose of tricyclic and cyclic antidepressant ingestions that requires observation at a health care facility.

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic↗
PubMed1995

Wandering spleen with torsion in a geriatric patient. Report of an unusual case with a brief review of the clinical picture and management.

Wandering spleen is a rare condition that is extremely uncommon in the elderly. A case of wandering spleen with torsion in a 73-year-old female is described in detail. Our patient's presentation is unusual because in 1972, during a total hysterectomy, she had no evidence of a wandering spleen. Preoperative technetium-99 radionuclide liver-spleen studies were utilized to minimize the potential for vascular difficulties. Splenectomy was the treatment of choice for this condition and was performed to avoid splenic infarction. A review of the literature and etiologic considerations are discussed.

Aged↗