A Dusky Hypoxic Woman Craig Smollin MD Associate Medical Director California Poison Control Center - SF Div.
Blue man case #1 A 46 year-old male was sent to the emergency department for cyanosis. In the emergency department he appeared in no acute distress and had obvious blue-gray discoloration of the skin. Vital signs were BP 148/81, P 88, RR 16, O2 sat 98%, Temp afebrile. The rest of the exam is unremarkable. Blue man case #2 A 34 year old HIV+ woman presents with c/o feeling lightheaded, nauseated, and short of breath. Vital signs were BP 124/88, P 116, RR 18, O2 sat 82% NRB, Afebrile. She was in no respiratory distress but appeared to have blue discoloration of the lips, gums, face and peripherally in the digits and nail beds. The rest of the exam was unremarkable.
What is cyanosis? Blue discoloration due to hypoxemia. Central vs. peripheral First visible on lips and tongue. Deoxygenated hgb = 3.5 g/dl in arterial blood. O2 sat 73-78% Cyanosis is an unreliable sign of hypoxemia. Cyanosis unreliable sign of hypoxemia
Cyanosis unreliable sign of hypoxemia Cyanosis unreliable sign of hypoxemia
Approach to the blue patient Blue man case #1 A 46 year-old male was sent to the emergency department for cyanosis. In the emergency department he appeared in no acute distress and had obvious blue-gray discoloration of the skin. Vital signs were BP 148/81, P 88, RR 16, O2 sat 98%, Temp afebrile. The rest of the exam is unremarkable.
Blue man case #1 A 46 year-old male was sent to the emergency department for cyanosis. In the emergency department he appeared in no acute distress and had obvious blue-gray discoloration of the skin. Vital signs were BP 148/81, P 88, RR 16, O2 sat 98%, Temp afebrile. The rest of the exam is unremarkable. ABG: 7.45, PCO2 35, PO2 133, lactate 1.8 What is the diagnosis?
Blue man case #1 On further questions the patient admits to the use of colloidal silver for the treatment of chronic MRSA infection of the skin. He purchased the product over the internet and has been using it regularly over the past year. During that time, he has noticed a gradual change in his skin color to the current blue-gray appearance.
Argyria Blue man case #2 A 34 year old HIV+ woman presents with c/o feeling lightheaded, nauseated, and short of breath. Vital signs were BP 124/88, P 116, RR 18, O2 sat 82% NRB, Afebrile. She was in no respiratory distress but appeared cyanotic in the lips, gums, face and peripherally in the digits and nail beds. The rest of the exam was unremarkable.
Blue man case #2 A 34 year old HIV+ woman presents with c/o feeling lightheaded, nauseated, and short of breath. Vital signs were BP 124/88, P 116, RR 18, O2 sat 82% NRB, Afebrile. She was in no respiratory distress but appeared cyanotic in the lips, gums, face and peripherally in the digits and nail beds. The rest of the exam was unremarkable. ABG = 7.44, PCO2 31, PO2 307, Lactate 1 0 Approach to the blue patient
Blue man case #2 A 34 year old HIV+ woman presents with c/o feeling lightheaded, nauseated, and short of breath. Vital signs were BP 124/88, P 116, RR 18, O2 sat 82% NRB, Afebrile. She was in no respiratory distress but appeared cyanotic in the lips, gums, face and peripherally in the digits and nail beds. The rest of the exam was unremarkable. ABG = 7.44, PCO2 31, PO2 307, Lactate 1.0 MetHb = 41%
Common drugs and toxins causing methgb
Met-hgb Pathophysiology Oxygen Hemoglobin
Met-Hgb
1. Functional Anemia 2. Shift in Oxygen Hgb Dissociation Curve
100 Percent Saturation Hgb 50 0 40 80 120 Oxygen Partial Pressure (mmhg) 100 Percent Saturation Hgb 50 alveoli 0 40 80 120 Oxygen Partial Pressure (mmhg)
100 Percent Saturation Hgb 50 tissues alveoli 0 40 80 120 Oxygen Partial Pressure (mmhg) 100 Percent Saturation Hgb 50 tissues alveoli 0 40 80 120 Oxygen Partial Pressure (mmhg)
100 Percent Saturation Hgb 50 tissues alveoli 0 40 80 120 Oxygen Partial Pressure (mmhg) 100 Percent Saturation Hgb 50 tissues alveoli 0 40 80 120 Oxygen Partial Pressure (mmhg)
100 Percent Saturation Hgb 50 tissues alveoli 0 40 80 120 Oxygen Partial Pressure (mmhg) Met-Hgb Pathophysiology Hemoglobin Fe oxidized to Fe3+ Functional anemia Changes hemoglobin such that it wont give up oxygen
Symptoms and Signs Methemaglobinemia Treatment: Methylene blue Dosed IV 1-2 mg/kg of a 1% solution over 5 minutes (max dose = 7 mg/kg) Symptoms generally improve over 1 hour General rule treat when methgb level > 20%