Talks
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Discipline Track
Community/Public Health
Abstract Type
Research/Clinical
Abstract
Background: Hypercapnic respiratory failure is a frequently encountered medical emergency. A very common cause among young patients is a side effect of opioids in the setting of an opioid crisis in both sides of the borders. Sometimes a delay in diagnosis associated with increased synthetic opioids use causes a delay in optimal management. We report a case of a patient that was negative for opioids in urine but responded to repeated dose of Narcan, the family later explained that he was obtaining medications across the border and distributing drugs.
Case presentation: 21 y/o Hispanic man who lives at a border town between Mexico and the USA with PMH of drug use was initially found with hypercapnic respiratory distress at home and presented to the ED due to cardiorespiratory arrest via EMS. The patient received a dose of Narcan 0.4 mg on the way to the ED with no response. While at the ED he received CPR and was intubated. Received 6 rounds of epinephrine, 50 meq of sodium bicarbonate x 3, 1 mg bolus atropine x 2, 1 g of calcium gluconate, Narcan 0.4 mg, glucose, he then received a second dose of Narcan 0.4 mg with response and an estimated ROSC of 22 minutes, was later transferred to the ICU. The initial urine drug screen was negative for opioids.
Conclusions: As the opioid crisis continues to expand nationwide and in the border towns of Mexico with more available illegal opioids in the streets is imperative to work with first responders to properly apply medications in the setting of suspected overdose. Proper application of Narcan in a case of suspected opioid overdose can be lifesaving.
Academic/Professional Position
Resident
Academic/Professional Position (Other)
PGY3
Mentor/PI Department
Internal Medicine
Recommended Citation
Gutierrez, Denis X.; Oluwakemi, B; Patel, N.; and Varghese, Nevin A., "Increasing opioid overdose among Hispanic young population in the borders of the USA and Mexico. Imperative to work with first responders and proper use of Narcan" (2023). Research Symposium. 35.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/somrs/2022/talks/35
Included in
Increasing opioid overdose among Hispanic young population in the borders of the USA and Mexico. Imperative to work with first responders and proper use of Narcan
Background: Hypercapnic respiratory failure is a frequently encountered medical emergency. A very common cause among young patients is a side effect of opioids in the setting of an opioid crisis in both sides of the borders. Sometimes a delay in diagnosis associated with increased synthetic opioids use causes a delay in optimal management. We report a case of a patient that was negative for opioids in urine but responded to repeated dose of Narcan, the family later explained that he was obtaining medications across the border and distributing drugs.
Case presentation: 21 y/o Hispanic man who lives at a border town between Mexico and the USA with PMH of drug use was initially found with hypercapnic respiratory distress at home and presented to the ED due to cardiorespiratory arrest via EMS. The patient received a dose of Narcan 0.4 mg on the way to the ED with no response. While at the ED he received CPR and was intubated. Received 6 rounds of epinephrine, 50 meq of sodium bicarbonate x 3, 1 mg bolus atropine x 2, 1 g of calcium gluconate, Narcan 0.4 mg, glucose, he then received a second dose of Narcan 0.4 mg with response and an estimated ROSC of 22 minutes, was later transferred to the ICU. The initial urine drug screen was negative for opioids.
Conclusions: As the opioid crisis continues to expand nationwide and in the border towns of Mexico with more available illegal opioids in the streets is imperative to work with first responders to properly apply medications in the setting of suspected overdose. Proper application of Narcan in a case of suspected opioid overdose can be lifesaving.