Heroin Toxicity Questions & Answers

Updated: Feb 01, 2023
  • Author: Rania Habal, MD; Chief Editor: Jeter (Jay) Pritchard Taylor, III, MD  more...
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Questions & Answers

Overview

What is the difference between body packing and body stuffing of heroin?

What is heroin?

What is the pathophysiology of heroin toxicity?

What is the prevalence of heroin toxicity in the US?

What is the global prevalence of heroin use?

What are the mortality rates of heroin toxicity?

Which patient groups have the highest prevalence of heroin toxicity?

What are the sexual predilections of heroin toxicity?

Which age groups are at highest risk for heroin toxicity?

Presentation

Which clinical history findings are characteristic of heroin toxicity?

Which factors may alter the clinical presentation of heroin toxicity?

What are the signs and symptoms of heroin toxicity?

Which physical findings are characteristic of heroin toxicity?

What causes heroin toxicity?

DDX

Which drugs should be considered in the differential diagnoses of heroin toxicity?

What are the differential diagnoses for Heroin Toxicity?

Workup

What is the role of lab testing in the workup of heroin toxicity?

What is the role of imaging studies in the workup of heroin toxicity?

What is the role of ECG in the workup of heroin toxicity?

What is the role of intubation in the treatment of heroin toxicity?

What is the role of pulmonary artery catheterization in the treatment of heroin toxicity?

What is the role of lumbar puncture in the workup of heroin toxicity?

Treatment

How is heroin toxicity treated?

How is pulmonary edema treated in heroin toxicity?

How are convulsions treated in heroin toxicity?

How is rhabdomyolysis treated in heroin toxicity?

How is heroin toxicity treated during pregnancy?

How is heroin toxicity treated in children?

What is the role of surgery in the treatment of heroin toxicity?

Which specialist consultations are beneficial to patients with heroin toxicity?

Which dietary modifications are used in the treatment of heroin toxicity?

Medications

Which medications in the drug class GI decontaminants are used in the treatment of Heroin Toxicity?

Which medications in the drug class Narcotic antagonists are used in the treatment of Heroin Toxicity?