Toxic Alcohol Ingestion

Scenario involving a man with severely decreased GCS due to alcohol consumption. Team will need to intubate, then recognize and manage profound metabolic acidosis on critical VBG.

  • Kyla Caners    
  • Mateo Orrantia - 2022   
  • July 29, 2022, 1:09 p.m.   

  • Emergency Medicine, Toxicology   
  • Residents, Physicians   
  • Airway Equip., BVM, ECG Leads/Wires, ET Tubes, IV Equip., Laryngoscope, Manakin - LF, Manakin - HF, Nasal Prongs, NIBP Cuff, NRB, Pulse Oximeter   

  • 2   
  • 45 Min   
  • Rural Hospital   

  • PRACTISS Verified   
Toxic Alcohol Ingestion

46-year-old male presents with GCS 3 after being found in the back alley behind a drug store. The team will need to work through a broad differential diagnosis and recognize the need to intubate the patient. If they try naloxone, it will have no effect. After intubation, the team will receive critical VBG results showing a profound metabolic acidosis with a significant anion gap. The goal is to trigger the team to work through the possible causes of an elevated anion gap, including toxic alcohols.

 
Goals and Learning Objectives
 
Technical/Equipment Recommendations
 
Supporting Roles and Scripts - None for this Scenario
 
Moulage and Scenario Set-Up
 
Printable Supporting Documents (Will also be accessible at relevant Scenario Stage)

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Credits:
Original Author: Kyla Caners
Date:  April 2 2015
Originally published on: emsimcases.com
Most Recent Modification: June 2 2022
Modified by: Mateo Orrantia