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Question

A 28-year-old male patient is brought to casualty in comatose state, with pin-point pupils, reduced respiratory rate and bradycardia. What is the most likely diagnosis ?

The correct answer is
Opioid poisoning

Diagnosis of Comatose Patient with Pinpoint Pupils

The patient presents with a classic triad suggestive of opioid overdose:

  • Comatose state: Indicates severe central nervous system (CNS) depression.
  • Pin-point pupils (miosis): A hallmark sign of opioid effects on the CNS (specifically the Edinger-Westphal nucleus).
  • Reduced respiratory rate: Opioids significantly depress the respiratory drive.
  • Bradycardia: Can also be associated with opioid toxicity.

Differential Diagnosis Analysis

Let's evaluate the other options:

  • Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) Poisoning: Typically causes anticholinergic effects like dry mouth, urinary retention, and dilated pupils (mydriasis), along with potential cardiac arrhythmias (often tachycardia). This doesn't match the pinpoint pupils and bradycardia.
  • Benzodiazepine Poisoning: Causes CNS and respiratory depression but usually results in normal or slightly dilated pupils, not pinpoint ones.
  • Organophosphorus Poisoning: While it can cause pinpoint pupils due to muscarinic overstimulation, it is primarily associated with excessive secretions (salivation, lacrimation, etc.) and fasciculations. Respiratory distress is common, but the combination of profound coma, pinpoint pupils, and respiratory/cardiac depression points more strongly towards opioids as the *most likely* cause in this specific scenario.

Therefore, the combination of coma, pinpoint pupils, and respiratory depression strongly indicates opioid poisoning.

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Important Questions from Acute Poisoning

  1. Whole Bowel Irrigation (WBI) as a method of gastrointestinal decontamination is useful for poisoning with :
  2. Poisoning with which of the following drugs causes hypothermia ?
  3. Consider the following agents and the cardiac effects in case of overdose or poisoning: 

    1. Prolonged PR interval - Lithium 

    2. Prolonged QTc interval - Amiodarone 

    3. Wide QRS complex - Kerosene ingestion 

    4. Tachycardia - Organophosphates 

    How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched ?

  4. Urinary alkalinization as a method for enhancing excretion for poisoning is aimed at achieving
  5. Exchange transfusion as a method to enhance excretion of poison is indicated in
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