Biomaterial Database

Fulminant hepatic failure in acute acetaminophen overdose. 1998

K E Artnak, and S S Wilkinson

Department of Nursing, Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas, USA. kathryn.artnak@angelo.edu

Fulminant hepatic failure is a serious complication of acetaminophen overdose. The cascade of complications starts with an alert patient that can quickly result in hepatic coma and even death. The nurse completes a poisoning history, provides an antidote, and assesses the extent of hepatic failure from an overdose. This article uses a case study to describe the problems and nursing care for the patient with hepatic failure from acetaminophen overdose. Advanced assessment skills by the critical care nurse enable prompt recognition of postoverdose complications for early intervention and treatment. Acute care nurse practitioners, utilizing the same techniques, can develop protocols for emergency or intensive care units where these patients may be admitted and subsequently cared for.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009733	Nursing Diagnosis	Conclusions derived from the nursing assessment that establish a health status profile for the patient and from which nursing interventions may be ordered.	Diagnosis, Nursing,Diagnoses, Nursing,Nursing Diagnoses
D010347	Patient Care Planning	Usually a written medical and nursing care program designed for a particular patient.	Nursing Care Plans,Goals of Care,Plans, Nursing Care,Care Goal,Care Goals,Care Plan, Nursing,Care Planning, Patient,Care Plans, Nursing,Nursing Care Plan,Plan, Nursing Care,Planning, Patient Care
D003422	Critical Care	Health care provided to a critically ill patient during a medical emergency or crisis.	Intensive Care,Intensive Care, Surgical,Surgical Intensive Care,Care, Critical,Care, Intensive,Care, Surgical Intensive
D006501	Hepatic Encephalopathy	A syndrome characterized by central nervous system dysfunction in association with LIVER FAILURE, including portal-systemic shunts. Clinical features include lethargy and CONFUSION (frequently progressing to COMA); ASTERIXIS; NYSTAGMUS, PATHOLOGIC; brisk oculovestibular reflexes; decorticate and decerebrate posturing; MUSCLE SPASTICITY; and bilateral extensor plantar reflexes (see REFLEX, BABINSKI). ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY may demonstrate triphasic waves. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1117-20; Plum & Posner, Diagnosis of Stupor and Coma, 3rd ed, p222-5)	Encephalopathy, Hepatic,Portosystemic Encephalopathy,Encephalopathy, Hepatocerebral,Encephalopathy, Portal-Systemic,Encephalopathy, Portosystemic,Fulminant Hepatic Failure with Cerebral Edema,Hepatic Coma,Hepatic Stupor,Hepatocerebral Encephalopathy,Portal-Systemic Encephalopathy,Coma, Hepatic,Comas, Hepatic,Encephalopathies, Hepatic,Encephalopathies, Hepatocerebral,Encephalopathies, Portal-Systemic,Encephalopathies, Portosystemic,Encephalopathy, Portal Systemic,Hepatic Comas,Hepatic Encephalopathies,Hepatic Stupors,Hepatocerebral Encephalopathies,Portal Systemic Encephalopathy,Portal-Systemic Encephalopathies,Portosystemic Encephalopathies,Stupor, Hepatic,Stupors, Hepatic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000082	Acetaminophen	Analgesic antipyretic derivative of acetanilide. It has weak anti-inflammatory properties and is used as a common analgesic, but may cause liver, blood cell, and kidney damage.	Acetamidophenol,Hydroxyacetanilide,Paracetamol,APAP,Acamol,Acephen,Acetaco,Acetominophen,Algotropyl,Anacin-3,Datril,N-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)acetanilide,N-Acetyl-p-aminophenol,Panadol,Tylenol,p-Acetamidophenol,p-Hydroxyacetanilide,Anacin 3,Anacin3
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D018712	Analgesics, Non-Narcotic	A subclass of analgesic agents that typically do not bind to OPIOID RECEPTORS and are not addictive. Many non-narcotic analgesics are offered as NONPRESCRIPTION DRUGS.	Non Opioid Analgesic,Non-Opioid Analgesic,Nonopioid Analgesic,Nonopioid Analgesics,Analgesics, Nonnarcotic,Analgesics, Nonopioid,Non-Opioid Analgesics,Analgesic, Non Opioid,Analgesic, Non-Opioid,Analgesic, Nonopioid,Analgesics, Non Narcotic,Analgesics, Non-Opioid,Non Opioid Analgesics,Non-Narcotic Analgesics,Nonnarcotic Analgesics,Opioid Analgesic, Non
D062787	Drug Overdose	Accidental or deliberate use of a medication or street drug in excess of normal dosage.	Drug Overdoses,Overdose, Drug,Overdoses, Drug