Emergency Care
Drugs that prolong QT Interval - from ArizonaCERT | Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics.
FDA Drug Update: Antibiotic - Zithromax or Zmax
Safety Announcement
[3-12-2013] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning the public that azithromycin (Zithromax or Zmax) can cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart that may lead to a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm. Patients at particular risk for developing this condition include those with known risk factors such as existing QT interval prolongation, low blood levels of potassium or magnesium, a slower than normal heart rate, or use of certain drugs used to treat abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias. This communication is a result of our review of a study by medical researchers as well as another study by a manufacturer of the drug that assessed the potential for azithromycin to cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart.
Physician's Information: Local Anaesthesia;
The use of local anaesthetics on patients with periodic paralysis presents some unusual challenges. Many patients report that these agents trigger weakness or paralysis, a phenomenon which is substantiated in medical literature. Some patients also report that the agents do not produce the desired anaesthesia.
Emergency Care for Attacks of Thyrotoxic Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis
Patients with Thyrotoxic Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis typically present at the ER with an acute episode of paralysis involving the muscles of the extremities and limb girdles caused by hyperthyroidism. This is a true endocrine emergency. Respiratory and cardiac arrest are possible. read more
- Physician's Sheet for Thyrotoxic Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis
- Hospital Management Guidelines for Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis Patients
Emergency Care for Attacks of Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis
Paralytic attacks of Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis can cause cardiac and/or respiratory distress or arrest. Patients may become unable to cough and may choke on their own secretions or on vomit. Attacks of profound paralysis or ones in which there is cardiac or respiratory distress require immediate emergency medical attention. read more
- Physician's Sheet for Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis
- Anesthesia in Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis
- Hospital Management Guidelines - HypoKPP
- Hospital Management Guidelines HypoKPP - GUIDELINES ved indlæggelse for Hypokalemisk Periodika Paralyse Patient (in Danish)
- Practical Aspects in the management of Hypokalemic periodic paralysis
- Akut behandling af et hypokalemisk paralytisk anfald (Emergency Care for Hypokalemic Episode in Danish:)
Emergency Care for Attacks in Andersen-Tawil Syndrome
Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS) is characterized by the triad of periodic paralysis, distinctive dysmorphic features, ventricular arrhythmias and prolonged QT interval. Patients with ATS may present to the ER with an attack of weakness/paralysis and/or cardiac rhythm disturbances or prolonged QT interval. Uncommonly they may come to the ER after an injury due to syncope, or very rarely, due to cardiac arrest. read more
Emergency Care for Attacks in Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis and Paramyotonia Congenita
Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis and Paramyotonia Congenita can occur singly or in combination. While most attacks of Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis are brief and do not require emergency intervention, occasionally the serum potassium level will be high enough to cause cardiac distress, or myotonia may interfere with respiration. Attacks of weakness in Paramytonia Congenita are usually mild to moderate in severity, but myotonia of chest, diaphragm and throat muscles can be life-threatening under some circumstances. read more
Anesthesia in Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis and Paramyotonia Congenita
- Physician's Sheet for Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis
- Physician's Sheet for Paramyotonia Congenita
- Hospital Management Guideline Form - HyperKPP
Emergency Care for Attacks in Normokalemic Periodic Paralysis
- Normokalaemic periodic paralysis (normoKPP) is characterized by transient and recurrent muscle weakness, and some patients also show muscle stiffness induced by cold exposure. It is caused by a mutation in the muscle voltage gated sodium channel alpha subunit (SCN4A) gene. Due to the diversity of the clinical manifestations of patients, it is difficult for clinicians to differentiate some of patients with atypical normoKPP from those who suffer from other forms of periodic paralysis.
- Hospital Management Guidelines for Normokalemic Periodic Paralysis Patients
- Malignant Hyperthermia in Sodium Channel Periodic Paralysis (including Normokalemic PP)
