Death from paracetamol overdose despite appropriate treatment with N-acetylcysteine.

Abstract

A case of death from severe paracetamol poisoning which presented early and received appropriate treatment according to evidence-based guidelines is presented here. It is very rare for patients to die from paracetamol poisoning when they receive N-acetylcysteine (NAC) within 8 h of ingestion. The patient had a marked lactic acidosis on presentation to hospital. This case demonstrates that a patient can die from paracetamol poisoning despite early and appropriate treatment, and raises the question whether lactic acidosis in a patient following paracetamol overdose should prompt the initiation of NAC treatment while awaiting paracetamol levels.

• Authors: Chris Bourdeaux, Jeremy Bewley
• Journal: Emergency medicine journal : EMJ (Emerg Med J) Vol. 24 Issue 5 Pg. e31 (May 2007) ISSN: 1472-0213 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 17452691 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
• Free Radical Scavengers
• Acetaminophen
• Acetylcysteine

Topics

• Acetaminophen (poisoning)
• Acetylcysteine (therapeutic use)
• Analgesics, Non-Narcotic (poisoning)
• Drug Overdose (complications, drug therapy)
• Fatal Outcome
• Free Radical Scavengers (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Multiple Organ Failure (chemically induced)