SAQ 995 – Toxicology – unknown ingestion with severe acidosis

Marked out of 17.00

A 33-year-old man is brought to ED 4 hours after a suicide attempt involving ingestion of an unknown substance.

His observations are HR 105, BP 142/79, RR 30, oxygen saturation 94% on 6 L high-mask oxygen, and GCS E2 V3 M4.

Urgent blood gas and blood results are shown below.

Parameter Result
pH 7.02
pCO2 20 mmHg
pO2 85 mmHg
HCO3 8 mmol/L
Lactate 8.2 mmol/L
Glucose 8 mmol/L
Urea 24 mmol/L
Creatinine 210 micromol/L
Measured osmolality 299 mOsm/kg
Na 142 mmol/L
K 4.0 mmol/L
Cl 106 mmol/L
Ca 1.9 mmol/L
Mg 0.8 mmol/L

Describe the acid-base disturbance.

(Marked out of 2.0)


/ 2

Name three other abnormalities on the gas or blood tests, then state the likely diagnosis and why.

(Marked out of 5.0)


/ 5

List two further investigations you would request and give a rationale for each.

(Marked out of 4.0)


/ 4

He has a generalised tonic-clonic seizure lasting 5 minutes. Describe six steps in management.

(Marked out of 6.0)


/ 6

Total Score: 0 / 17

Percentage: 0%