The importance and value of the toxicological and biochemical results in the management of the poisoned patient
Groszek, B.
Przeglad Lekarski 64(4-5): 191-193
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0033-2240 PMID: 17724863 Document Number: 607862
The most important tasks of modern analytic toxicology can be summarized as follows: identification and quantification of toxicants potentially responsible for the intoxication of an emergency patient; confirmation or exclusion of poisoning diagnoses; grading and prognosis of an intoxication; monitoring of elimination therapies; testing for drugs of abuse; exclusion of the presence of central depressants before organ explanation or discontinuation of life support; checking the compliance of patients with prescribed drug therapy; therapeutic drug monitoring. The interpretation of toxicologic results is one of the most difficult tasks in toxicology. It is not always possible to relate symptoms and blood concentrations of drugs and poisons. In many cases, it is necessary to monitor biochemical parameters in the management of poisoned patient.