EVALUATING ACETAMINOPHEN AND SALICYLATE POISONING IN AN EMERGENCY SETTING

The poisoned patient often presents as a diagnostic and therapeutic di lemma. The emergency department physician (or medical toxicologist) no t only depends upon the history of the patient and clinical findings o f a specific drug or toxin, but also relies heavily on the clinical la boratory to provide information to guide proper patient management. Th e medical necessity of these results can often vary in an acute vs a c hronic overdose. Two of the most common poisonings encountered in the emergency department are overdoses of acetaminophen and aspirin (acety lsalicylic acid). With both drugs, the laboratory plays a major role i n the diagnosis and treatment of these patients.