A 27-year-old woman presents to the emergency department after ingesting an unknown quantity of acetaminophen 3 hours ago in a suicide attempt. She is...

Question

A 27-year-old woman presents to the emergency department after ingesting an unknown quantity of acetaminophen 3 hours ago in a suicide attempt. She is alert and haemodynamically stable. What is the most appropriate next step in management?

Accepted Answer

Measure serum acetaminophen level at 4 hours post-ingestion and start N-acetylcysteine if level is above treatment line

Answer

Discharge her because she is asymptomatic

Answer

Wait until she develops right upper quadrant pain before testing

Answer

Start haemodialysis immediately

Answer

Give activated charcoal only and no further treatment

ca-mccqe1 MCQ (SBA): Acetaminophen overdose initial management

A 27-year-old woman presents to the emergency department after ingesting an unknown quantity of acetaminophen 3 hours ago in a suicide attempt. She is alert and haemodynamically stable. What is the most appropriate next step in management?