1. Adolescent Presents With Altered Mental Status and Elevated Anion Gap After Suicide Attempt by Ethylene Glycol Ingestion.
- Author
-
Schoen JC, Cain MR, Robinson JA, Schiltz BM, and Mannenbach MS
- Subjects
- Acidosis metabolism, Acidosis psychology, Adolescent, Depressive Disorder, Major metabolism, Diagnosis, Differential, Fomepizole, Humans, Male, Mental Disorders metabolism, Pyrazoles therapeutic use, Renal Dialysis, Acidosis chemically induced, Depressive Disorder, Major diagnosis, Depressive Disorder, Major psychology, Ethylene Glycol poisoning, Mental Disorders chemically induced, Mental Disorders psychology, Suicide, Attempted psychology
- Abstract
We report the case of a 16-year-old healthy adolescent male who presented to the local emergency department with altered mental status. En route to a tertiary care facility, he began to decompensate and was found to be markedly acidotic. Further investigation revealed an elevated anion gap, and physical examination showed only abdominal pain and decreased level of consciousness. A broad differential diagnosis was considered at the time of the patient's presentation at the tertiary care center including ingestion of a volatile alcohol, sepsis, and an abdominal catastrophe. Although fomepizole and emergent dialysis were being initiated, laboratory tests confirmed ethylene glycol poisoning. This case demonstrates the importance of early recognition of potential ingestions in patients with altered mental status and supportive laboratory findings.
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF