A 40-Year-Old Man Is Brought to the Emergency Department Due

question 1134

Multiple Choice

A 40-year-old man is brought to the emergency department due to retrosternal and epigastric pain after ingesting an unknown amount of sodium hydroxide-based drain cleaner 45 minutes ago.  He has a history of major depressive disorder and a prior suicide attempt.  The patient has difficulty swallowing his saliva and is drooling.  Temperature is 36.8 C (98.2 F) , blood pressure is 120/70 mm Hg, pulse is 110/min, and respirations are 20/min.  Examination shows oropharyngeal erythema and mild edema.  The lungs are clear to auscultation.  Abdominal examination shows tenderness at the epigastrium without rebound or guarding.  Chest x-ray reveals no abnormalities.  Intravenous normal saline infusion is initiated.  Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management of this patient?

• A)Activated charcoal in water
• B)Gastric decontamination with ipecac
• C)Intravenous methylprednisolone
• D)Neutralization of alkali with dilute acetic acid solution
• E)Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy

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Definitions:

ROP

Reorder Point, the inventory level at which a new order should be placed to replenish stock before it runs out.

Common Components

Common Components refer to parts or materials used in the manufacturing of multiple product models or lines, helping to streamline production and reduce costs.

Component Commonality

The use of the same parts or materials in multiple products or systems to reduce inventory and increase efficiency.

Aggregation

the process of combining multiple elements, data, or inputs into a summarized or unified whole, often used in the context of data analysis or planning.