A 46-year-old man with osteoarthritis is brought in three hours after taking twenty-four modified-release para…

Question

A 46-year-old man with osteoarthritis is brought in three hours after taking twenty-four modified-release paracetamol tablets, each 665 mg, at one sitting. He weighs 70 kg. He is fully alert and orientated, is not vomiting, has taken nothing else, and bowel sounds are normal. His observations are unremarkable and he is maintaining his own airway. Blood has been sent for a paracetamol concentration, which will be repeated four hours later. Which one of the following gastrointestinal decontaminati…

Accepted Answer

Single-dose activated charcoal

Answer

Gastric lavage

Answer

Multiple-dose activated charcoal

Answer

No gastrointestinal decontamination

Answer

Whole bowel irrigation

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