Ethylene glycol is an alcohol that is most commonly used in antifreeze. It has a sweet taste and is highly toxic so a bittering agent is usually added to the antifreeze to prevent accidental ingestion. Ethylene glycol also may be ingested as a contaminant in moonshine when it is made in a radiator that has not been thoroughly cleaned.
Instructions
1. Provide initial treatment for ethylene glycol poisoning. Stabilize the patient and administer gastric decontamination such as lavage or nasogastric aspiration. This must be done quickly,as ethylene glycol is absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream. Activated charcoal is not effective because it does not adsorb glycols.
2. Administer ethanol in a hospital setting. This is the most common treatment for ethylene glycol poisoning and forms the majority of the management strategy following ingestion. The usual dosage is a 5 to 10 percent solution with 5 percent dextrose. The ethanol competes with ethylene glycol to reduce the amount of toxic metabolites that are formed.
3. Use ethanol as first aid. A strong spirit such as gin, whiskey or vodka also may be given as an emergency measure.
4. Offer fomepizole. This chemical inhibits the action of dehydrogenase, which also decreases the production of toxic byproducts.
5. Begin hemodialysis. This procedure facilitates the elimination of ethylene glycol that the patient has not yet metabolized in addition to the toxic metabolites. Hemodialysis also supports the degradation in kidney function that results from ingesting ethylene glycol. Antidotes are often used in conjunction with hemodialysis.
Tags: , ethylene glycol, ethylene glycol poisoning, glycol poisoning, toxic metabolites, treatment ethylene, treatment ethylene glycol
