Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S W Snover.
A 74-year-old man presented with bradycardia, diaphoresis, mental confusion, and slurred speech. He developed asystole and was managed successfully with temporary emergency transvenous pacing and support of ventilation and blood pressure. He later was found to have ingested approximately 1,500 mg diltiazem, apparently as the result of an error created by his blindness and chronic confusion.
Nitrous oxide levels of 300 to 500 ppm occur when nitrous oxide is administered in the emergency department using the Nitronox machine without use of the scavenger device, which traps expired nitrous oxide gases and vents them to the outside environment. A scavenger device that can limit nitrous oxide gas to zero ppm in the emergency department setting has been developed. We think that development of the scavenger device is a significant advance for the safe administration of nitrous oxide in the emergency department.