heroin and Respiratory-Insufficiency

Opioid drugs are important tools to alleviate pain of different origins, but they have strong addictive potential and their abuse at higher doses often results in serious health complications. Respiratory depression that leads to brain hypoxia is perhaps the most dangerous symptom of acute intoxication with opioids, and it could result in lethality. The development of substrate-specific sensors coupled with amperometry made it possible to directly evaluate physiological and drug-induced fluctuations in brain oxygen levels in awake, freely-moving rats. The goal of this review paper is to consider changes in brain oxygen levels induced by several opioid drugs (heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, morphine). While some of these drugs are widely used in clinical practice, they all are abused, often at doses exceeding the clinical range and often resulting in serious health complications. First, we consider some basic knowledge regarding brain oxygen, its physiological fluctuations, and mechanisms involved in regulating its entry into brain tissue. Then, we present and discuss data on brain oxygen changes induced by each opioid drug within a wide range of doses, from low, behaviorally relevant, to high, likely to be self-administered by drug users. These data allowed us to compare the effects of these drugs on brain oxygen in terms of their potency, time-course, and their potential danger when used at high doses via rapid-onset administration routes. While most data discussed in this work were obtained in rats, we believe that these data have clear human relevance in addressing the alarming rise in lethality associated with the opioid abuse.

Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Brain; Fentanyl; Heroin; Humans; Hypoxia, Brain; Morphine; Oxycodone; Rats; Respiratory Insufficiency

The prevalence of neuraxial opioid-induced clinically significant respiratory depression (CSRD) after cesarean delivery is unknown. We sought to review reported cases of author-reported respiratory depression (ARD) to calculate CSRD prevalence. A 6-database literature search was performed to identify ARD secondary to neuraxial morphine or diamorphine, in parturients undergoing cesarean delivery. "Highest" (definite and probable/possible) and "lowest" (definite) prevalences of CSRD were calculated. Secondary outcomes included: (1) prevalence of CSRD associated with contemporary doses of neuraxial opioid, (2) prevalence of ARD as defined by each study's own criteria, (3) case reports of ARD, and (4) reports of ARD reported by the Anesthesia Closed Claims Project database between 1990 and 2016. We identified 78 articles with 18,455 parturients receiving neuraxial morphine or diamorphine for cesarean delivery. The highest and lowest prevalences of CSRD with all doses of neuraxial opioids were 8.67 per 10,000 (95% CI, 4.20-15.16) and 5.96 per 10,000 (95% CI, 2.23-11.28), respectively. The highest and lowest prevalences of CSRD with the use of clinically relevant doses of neuraxial morphine ranged between 1.63 per 10,000 (95% CI, 0.62-8.77) and 1.08 per 10,000 (95% CI, 0.24-7.22), respectively. The prevalence of ARD as defined by each individual paper was 61 per 10,000 (95% CI, 51-74). One published case report of ARD met our inclusion criteria, and there were no cases of ARD from the Closed Claims database analysis. These results indicate that the prevalence of CSRD due to neuraxial morphine or diamorphine in the obstetric population is low.

Topics: Analgesia, Epidural; Analgesia, Obstetrical; Analgesics, Opioid; Anesthesia; Cesarean Section; Female; Heroin; Humans; Morphine; Observational Studies as Topic; Pain, Postoperative; Postoperative Complications; Pregnancy; Prevalence; Respiratory Insufficiency; Treatment Outcome

Over the past decade fatal opioid overdose has emerged as a major public health issue internationally. This paper examines the risk factors for overdose from a biomedical perspective. While significant risk factors for opioid overdose fatality are well recognized, the mechanism of fatal overdose remains unclear. Losses of tolerance and concomitant use of alcohol and other CNS depressants clearly play a major role in fatality; however, such risk factors do not account for the strong age and gender patterns observed consistently among victims of overdose. There is evidence that systemic disease may be more prevalent in users at greatest risk of overdose. We hypothesize that pulmonary and hepatic dysfunction resulting from such disease may increase susceptibility to both fatal and non-fatal overdose. Sequelae of non-fatal overdose are recognized in the clinical literature but few epidemiological data exist describing the burden of morbidity arising from such sequelae. The potential for overdose to cause persisting morbidity is reviewed.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Cognition Disorders; Drug Interactions; Drug Tolerance; Female; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Pneumonia, Bacterial; Respiration; Respiratory Insufficiency; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Sex Factors; Smoking

Extensive clinical experience has been obtained in the use of opiates during the last decade in special units devoted to symptom control in advanced cancer. Important contradictions have emerged with the clinical pharmacological literature on opiates calling into question its relevance to the treatment of chronic pain. Specifically in the case of morphine it is clear that: it is a very effective analgesic given orally, dosage must be individualized, parenteral use or exotic analgesic 'cocktails' are usually unnecessary, and tolerance, dependence and respiratory depression are rarely common or serious problems which prevent effective pain control provided morphine is used appropriately in accordance with its pharmacological characteristics. Heroin is a suitable alternative to morphine (particularly for intramuscular administration) if differences in milligram potency are taken into account, but has no advantages in terms of either analgesic efficacy or side effects. This paper summarizes clinical experience in the use of oral morphine for cancer pain at St. Christopher's Hospice, any data from clinical investigations which support this approach, and comments on the areas of controversy which have emerged.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Analgesics; Constipation; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Combinations; Heroin; Humans; Morphine; Morphine Dependence; Nausea; Neoplasms; Palliative Care; Respiratory Insufficiency

To describe 15 pediatric patients with opiate-induced respiratory depression.. In-house adverse drug reaction (ADR) report forms were reviewed to identify any patients with suspected opiate-induced respiratory depression. Case review was then performed.. Large pediatric teaching hospital with regional specialties.. Fifteen patients aged 2 days to 17 years (median 14 mo).. Respiratory depression resulting in apnea, hypoxia, cyanosis, reduced respiratory rate, or the need for naloxone following or during opiate administration was recorded.. Fifteen patients experienced some degree of respiratory depression over the 3 years of surveillance. Treatment included naloxone (12 patients), admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (8), ventilation (5), and reduction in dosage (1). Predisposing factors for respiratory depression included an age of less than 1 year, excessive dosage, concurrent medical problems, concurrent drugs, and medication errors.. Opiate-induced respiratory depression in pediatric patients occurs infrequently, but may have serious consequences. Opiates are potent analgesics that children require and should receive. Safe use of opiates in pediatric patients, however, depends on the dosage, route and method of administration, consideration of any predisposing factors, and adequate monitoring. This article highlights some of the problems with opiate use in children and gives some recommendations on how these problems may be prevented.

Topics: Adolescent; Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; Age Factors; Analgesics, Opioid; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Heroin; Hospitals, Pediatric; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Medication Errors; Monitoring, Physiologic; Morphine; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Respiratory Insufficiency

The opioid overdose death toll in the United States is an ongoing public health crisis. We characterized the magnitude and duration of respiratory depression, the leading cause of death in opioid overdose cases, induced by heroin or fentanyl and the development of tolerance in male and female rats. We used whole-body plethysmography to first establish dose-response curves by recording breathing for 60 minutes post-intravenous opioid injection. We then tested the development of respiratory tolerance to acute heroin or fentanyl over several weeks and to chronic fentanyl with acute fentanyl or heroin challenge. Heroin and fentanyl each provoked dose-dependent respiratory depression. Heroin caused prolonged (45-60 minute) respiratory depression in female and male rats, characterized by decreased frequency, tidal volume, and minute ventilation and increased inspiratory time and apneic pause. Fentanyl produced similar changes with a shorter duration (10-15 minutes). High-dose heroin or fentanyl produced robust respiratory depression that was slightly more severe in females and, when given intermittently (acute doses 2 to 3 weeks apart), did not lead to tolerance. In contrast, chronic fentanyl delivered with an osmotic minipump resulted in tolerance to acute fentanyl and heroin, characterized by a shorter duration of respiratory depression. This effect persisted during withdrawal in males only. Our model and experimental design will allow for investigation of the neurobiology of opioid-induced respiratory depression and for testing potential therapeutics to reverse respiratory depression or stimulate breathing. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Fentanyl was more potent and had shorter duration in producing respiratory depression than heroin in both sexes, whereas female rats were more sensitive than males to heroin-induced respiratory depression. Tolerance/cross-tolerance develops in chronic fentanyl administration but is minimized with long interadministration intervals.

Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Female; Fentanyl; Heroin; Male; Opiate Overdose; Plethysmography; Rats; Respiratory Insufficiency; Sex Characteristics

Xylazine has emerged in recent years as an adulterant in an increasing number of opioid-positive overdose deaths in the United States. Although its exact role in opioid-induced overdose deaths is largely unknown, xylazine is known to depress vital functions and cause hypotension, bradycardia, hypothermia, and respiratory depression.. In this study, we examined the brain-specific hypothermic and hypoxic effects of xylazine and its mixtures with fentanyl and heroin in freely moving rats.. In the temperature experiment, we found that intravenous xylazine at low, human-relevant doses (0.33, 1.0, 3.0 mg/kg) dose-dependently decreases locomotor activity and induces modest but prolonged brain and body hypothermia. In the electrochemical experiment, we found that xylazine at the same doses dose-dependently decreases nucleus accumbens oxygenation. In contrast to relatively weak and prolonged decreases induced by xylazine, intravenous fentanyl (20 μg/kg) and heroin (600 μg/kg) induce stronger biphasic brain oxygen responses, with the initial rapid and strong decrease, resulting from respiratory depression, followed by a slower, more prolonged increase reflecting a post-hypoxic compensatory phase, with fentanyl acting much quicker than heroin. The xylazine-fentanyl mixture eliminated the hyperoxic phase of oxygen response and prolonged brain hypoxia, suggesting xylazine-induced attenuation of the brain's compensatory mechanisms to counteract brain hypoxia. The xylazine-heroin mixture strongly potentiated the initial oxygen decrease, and the pattern lacked the hyperoxic portion of the biphasic oxygen response, suggesting more robust and prolonged brain hypoxia.. These findings suggest that xylazine exacerbates the life-threatening effects of opioids, proposing worsened brain hypoxia as the mechanism contributing to xylazine-positive opioid-overdose deaths.

Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Drug Overdose; Fentanyl; Heroin; Humans; Hypothermia; Hypoxia; Hypoxia, Brain; Oxygen; Rats; Respiratory Insufficiency; Xylazine

Fentanyl overdose deaths have reached "epidemic" levels in North America. Death in opioid overdose invariably results from respiratory depression. In the present work, we have characterized how fentanyl depresses respiration, and by comparing fentanyl with heroin and morphine, the active breakdown product of heroin, we have sought to determine the factors, in addition to high potency, that contribute to the lethality of fentanyl.. Respiration (rate and tidal volume) was measured in awake, freely moving mice by whole body plethysmography.. Intravenously administered fentanyl produced more rapid depression of respiration than equipotent doses of heroin or morphine. Fentanyl depressed both respiratory rate and tidal volume. Fentanyl did not depress respiration in μ-opioid receptor knockout mice. Naloxone, the opioid antagonist widely used to treat opioid overdose, reversed the depression of respiration by morphine more readily than that by fentanyl, whereas diprenorphine, a more lipophilic antagonist, was equipotent in reversing fentanyl and morphine depression of respiration. Prolonged treatment with morphine induced tolerance to respiratory depression, but the degree of cross tolerance to fentanyl was less than the tolerance to morphine itself.. We propose that several factors (potency, rate of onset, lowered sensitivity to naloxone, and lowered cross tolerance to heroin) combine to make fentanyl more likely to cause opioid overdose deaths than other commonly abused opioids. Lipophilic antagonists such as diprenorphine may be better antidotes than naloxone to treat fentanyl overdose.

Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Overdose; Drug Tolerance; Female; Fentanyl; Heroin; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Injections, Intravenous; Lung; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Morphine; Narcotic Antagonists; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Respiration; Respiratory Insufficiency; Respiratory Rate; Risk Assessment; Tidal Volume

Globally, more than 100 000 people die annually from opioid overdose. Opportunities to study physiological events in at-risk individuals are limited. This study examined variation of opioid dose and impact on respiratory depression in a chronic injecting heroin user at separate time-points during his long-term diamorphine maintenance treatment.. A single-subject study over 5 years during which participant underwent experimental studies on diamorphine-induced respiratory depression, at changing maintenance doses.. A clinical research facility. Participant Male subject on long-term injectable diamorphine (pharmaceutical heroin) maintenance treatment for heroin addiction.. Physiological measures of oxygen saturation (SpO. (1) After diamorphine injection, respiratory regulation became abnormal, with prolonged apnoea exceeding 20 sec (maximum 56 sec), elevated ETCO. With marked inter-session variability, these findings corroborate observations of inconsistent relationships between opioid dose and overdose risk.

Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Tapering; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Respiratory Insufficiency

Polydrug use involving heroin and benzodiazepines is common. The potential risk of additive pharmacological effects may be associated with poorer outcomes in patients who use benzodiazepines together with heroin. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical picture of patients presenting to the emergency department following acute drug toxicity involving heroin and benzodiazepines.. Exposure information, clinical data and outcome of acute drug toxicity presentations were collected between 1 October 2013 and 30 September 2014 as part of the European Drug Emergencies Network (Euro-DEN) project. The database was interrogated to identify patients who had taken heroin with or without benzodiazepine(s).. A total of 1345 presentations involving acute heroin toxicity were identified: 492 had used one or more non-heroin/benzodiazepine drug and were not further considered in this study; 662 were lone heroin users and 191 had co-used heroin with one or more benzodiazepines. Co-users were more likely than lone heroin users to have reduced respiratory rate at presentation 12.7 ± 4.9 vs 13.6 ± 4.4 (p = 0.02) and require admission to hospital 18.3 vs 9.8% (p < 0.01). There were no differences in critical care admission rates 3.1 vs 3.9% (p = 0.83) or length of stay 4 h 59 min vs 5 h 32 min (p = 0.23). The 3 most common benzodiazepines were clonazepam, diazepam, and alprazolam. No differences were observed for clinical features between the three benzodiazepines.. This study shows that co-use of heroin and benzodiazepines is common, although the overall outcomes between co-users of heroin and benzodiazepines and heroin-only users were similar.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Benzodiazepines; Critical Care; Emergency Service, Hospital; Europe; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Respiratory Insufficiency; Risk Assessment; Young Adult

Benzodiazepines are important therapeutic drugs, but they are often abused and co-abused with opioids. Clinical evidence suggests that benzodiazepines can inhibit respiration, and when combined with the respiratory-depressive effects of opioids, may increase likelihood of death. In this study we used oxygen sensors coupled with high-speed amperometry and multi-site thermorecording to examine how intravenous (iv) midazolam, a potent benzodiazepine, modulates the brain hypoxic and temperature effects of iv heroin in freely-moving rats. Oxygen levels and brain temperature were assessed with high temporal resolution in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), an important structure in the motivational-reinforcement circuit. When administered alone, midazolam (2 mg/kg) modestly decreased NAc temperature but had no evident effects on oxygen levels in this structure. In contrast, heroin (0.4 mg/kg) induced a strong decrease in NAc oxygen that was followed by a weaker, rebound-like oxygen increase. Midazolam pretreatment did not affect heroin-induced brain hypoxia but potentiated the initial hypothermia induced by heroin. However, co-administration of these drugs potentiated the heroin-induced oxygen decrease and enhanced heroin-induced brain hypothermia. Co-administration of heroin and midazolam also resulted in enhanced locomotor inhibition and loss of motor control. This effect caused some rats to collapse, resulting in nose and mouth occlusion, which caused a secondary hypoxic phase. These results could have important implications for human drug users, as the combined use of benzodiazepines with potent opioids not only results in sustained brain hypoxia but creates conditions of loss of motor control which could result in asphyxia and death. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'New Vistas in Opioid Pharmacology'.

Topics: Animals; Asphyxia; Behavior, Animal; Body Temperature; Brain; Drug Interactions; Electrodes, Implanted; Heroin; Hypoxia; Locomotion; Male; Midazolam; Nucleus Accumbens; Oxygen; Rats; Respiratory Insufficiency; Skin Temperature

Topics: Aged; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Pneumoperitoneum; Radiography, Thoracic; Respiratory Insufficiency; Stomach; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Topics: Coma; Heroin; Humans; Male; Radiography; Respiratory Insufficiency; Travel; Young Adult

Intracorporeal concealment of illicit drugs known as 'body packing' is uncommonly reported. A body packer with swallowed capsules containing Diacetylmorphine (heroin) for smuggling purposes presented with respiratory arrest and recovered after ventilatory support and nalaxone infusion.

Topics: Adult; Crime; Heroin; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Respiration, Artificial; Respiratory Insufficiency

A 67 year-old male presented to the emergency department with alteration in mental status. On arrival he had vital signs: pulse 110, BP 173/83, respiratory rate 4, oxygen saturation 57% and temperature 36.1 degrees Celsius. His past medical history included hypertension, vitamin B12 deficiency, hyperlipidemia, and recurrent cellulitis treated with vancomycin. The patient had no response to noxious stimuli, pinpoint pupils, and agonal respirations. Secondary to his wife's vehement denial that he had access to or history of using any narcotics, he was intubated after 2.2mg IV naloxone failed to reverse respiratory depression. Thirty minutes before presentation, however, he had received an intravenous infusion of vancomycin administered by his wife at home. The vancomycin, obtained from a home infusion medication supply company, was contained in one of five sealed elastomeric capsules delivered earlier that day. A qualitative comprehensive toxicology screen of urine for 1043 substances identified morphine, codeine, naloxone, lidocaine and caffeine. The original elastomeric container was not available for testing, but another container from the same delivery was submitted for testing to the state forensic laboratory. This intact container was labeled as Vancomycin 1g in 240mL of normal saline. The forensic laboratory confirmed that the alkaloidal contents of the elastomeric capsule were 10% codeine, 4.4% 6-monoacetyl morphine, and 84% morphine. No vancomycin was identified in the infusion bottles. The case was referred to the local police department and the state department of health drug control board. The home infusion company was also immediately notified to prevent similar occurrence.. We are reporting the first known case of opioid overdose from an adulterated elastomeric capsule that was labeled as containing an antimicrobial agent.

Topics: Aged; Analgesics, Opioid; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Capsules; Drug Contamination; Drug Labeling; Drug Packaging; Heroin; Home Infusion Therapy; Humans; Male; Medication Errors; Respiratory Insufficiency; Vancomycin

Opioid overdose, which is commonly associated with opioid induced respiratory depression, is a problem with both therapeutic and illicit opioid use. While the central mechanisms involved in the effects of opioids are well described, it has also been suggested that a peripheral component may contribute to the effects observed. This study aimed to further characterise the effects of the peripherally acting naloxone methiodide on the respiratory, analgesic and withdrawal effects produced by various opioid agonists. A comparison of the respiratory and analgesic effects of morphine, methadone and heroin in male Swiss-Albino mice was conducted and respiratory depressive ED(80) doses of each opioid determined. These doses (morphine 9 mg/kg i.p., methadone 7 mg/kg i.p., and heroin 17 mg/kg i.p.) were then used to show that both naloxone (3 mg/kg i.p.) and naloxone methiodide (30-100 mg/kg i.p.) could reverse the respiratory and analgesic effects of these opioid agonists, but only naloxone precipitated withdrawal. Further investigation in female C57BL/6J mice using barometric plethysmography found that both opioid antagonists could reverse methadone induced decreases in respiratory rate and increases in tidal volume. Its effects do not appear to be strain or sex dependent. It was concluded that naloxone methiodide can reverse the respiratory and analgesic actions of a variety of opioid agonists, without inducing opioid withdrawal.

Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Interactions; Female; Heroin; Male; Methadone; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Morphine; Naloxone; Plethysmography, Whole Body; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Respiration; Respiratory Insufficiency; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome

The purpose of this study was to explore to what extent alcohol is a factor in non-fatal overdoses on the basis of records of ambulance emergencies, and to what extent this varies across gender and age. Furthermore, we wanted to investigate whether alcohol intake, in relation to an overdose, is associated with the risk of recurrent overdoses, and if so, whether such an association varies across gender and age. To investigate the role of alcohol intake in non-fatal overdoses, analyses were conducted both at the event level and at the individual level. Bivariate associations were explored in table analyses and by comparisons of means. To determine whether alcohol intake was associated with experiencing recurrent overdoses, survival analyses were conducted applying Kaplan-Meier estimation and Cox regression models. Furthermore, a linear regression model was estimated to assess the impact of gender age and number of overdoses on the proportion of overdoses in which alcohol was involved. Between groups of clients who had overdosed once, several times or many times, we found that there was a U-shaped relationship. The proportion of overdoses with alcohol involved was highest among those who had overdosed once and those who had overdosed more than ten times. The probability for a recurrent overdose was higher among those who were reported with no alcohol intake in the first overdose. Being female and having alcohol involved in the first overdose registered during our observation period reduced the risk for a recurrent overdose. However, age seemed to be a gradient with respect to alcohol's association with recurrent overdoses. While alcohol was associated with a significantly lower risk for recurrence in the two youngest age groups, this is not the case in the oldest age group. A possible explanation might be that it is a change in the pattern of drug use as an effect of aging where infrequent heroin use in combination with frequent alcohol intake increases with increasing age. For this type of drug users the individual's risk of recurrent overdoses may be lower due to fewer events of heroin intake.

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Alcoholism; Coma; Comorbidity; Drug Overdose; Emergencies; Ethanol; Female; Heroin; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; Middle Aged; Norway; Recurrence; Regression Analysis; Respiratory Insufficiency; Risk; Sex Factors

Topics: Analgesia, Epidural; Analgesics, Opioid; Heroin; Humans; Pain, Postoperative; Respiratory Insufficiency

Clostridium novyi has recently been identified as the causative organism responsible for the deaths of 35 heroin addicts who had injected themselves intramuscularly. We present two heroin addicts who developed C. botulinum infection following intramuscular or subcutaneous injection of heroin. Like C. novyi, this grows under anaerobic conditions and clinical presentation may be similar; however, descending motor or autonomic signs are invariably present in botulism. The prognosis is good if the diagnosis is made early and appropriate treatment commenced.

Topics: Adult; Botulinum Antitoxin; Botulism; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Heroin; Humans; Male; Penicillin G; Penicillins; Respiratory Insufficiency; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Treatment Outcome; Wound Infection

Topics: Adult; Capillary Leak Syndrome; Critical Care; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Humans; Male; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Pulmonary Edema; Respiratory Insufficiency

The transdermal therapeutic system (TTS) fentanyl has been designed for rate-controlled drug delivery. When the system is applied, a fentanyl depot concentrates in the upper skin layers. Plasma concentrations are not measurable until 2 hours after application, and it takes an 8-16 hr latency period until full clinical fentany effects are observed. Following removal, serum fentanyl concentrations decline gradually and fall to about 50% in approximately 16 hours. We report the case of a 77-year-old man with a history of severe arthritis, who was receiving transdermal fentanyl and developed respiratory failure after starting epidural diamorphine/bupivacaine for postoperative pain relief following radical nephrectomy.

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Aged; Analgesics, Opioid; Anesthetics, Local; Bupivacaine; Fentanyl; Heroin; Humans; Injections, Epidural; Male; Nephrectomy; Postoperative Care; Respiratory Insufficiency

A case is reported of a patient who experienced sudden onset of severe respiratory failure, shock and coma after first-time intranasal heroin abuse. During the following days full consciousness was restored, revealing persistent oculogyric crises, axial retropulsive dystonia and ataxia. Initially computer tomography (CT) scans of the brain were normal and cerebral spinal fluid examination showed a slight elevation of lactate. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain demonstrated diffuse bilateral subcortical white matter hyperintensities, with sparing of the U-fibers, symmetric bilateral hyperintensities of the globus pallidum and very hyperintensive subcortical foci in the right hemisphere. Differential diagnostic assessment, treatment, clinical and MRI course of a 6-month follow-up are discussed.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Dystonia; Heroin; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Narcotics; Respiratory Insufficiency; Substance-Related Disorders; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The incidence of wound botulism is increasing and the epidemiology of the disease is changing. The majority of new cases are associated with injection drug use, in particular, the use of Mexican black tar heroin. This case report and discussion of wound botulism illustrate the following important points: Dysphagia, dysphonia, diplopia, and descending paralysis, in association with injection drug use, should alert the treating physician to the possibility of wound botulism. In such patients, the onset of respiratory failure may be sudden and without clinically obvious signs of respiratory weakness. For the reported patient, maximum inspiratory force measurements were the only reliable indicator of respiratory muscle weakness. This is a measurement not routinely performed in the ED, but may prove essential for patients with suspected wound botulism. To minimize the effect of the botulinum toxin and to decrease length of hospital stay, antitoxin administration and surgical wound debridement should be performed early.

Topics: Botulism; Combined Modality Therapy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Middle Aged; Respiratory Insufficiency; Treatment Outcome

One hundred and fifty extradural infusions of diamorphine and bupivacaine after major surgery in children were audited over a 15 month period. The majority of the children (69%) were less than 5 years of age. Analgesia was assessed or self-rated as 'very good' in over 75% of patients. Urinary retention was seen in 11% of patients and pruritus in 10%. Respiratory depression requiring intervention was only seen in one patient--a premature infant of 39 weeks post-conceptual age. Technical complications resulted in the early loss of 16.7% of the infusions. Although analgesia was good the complexity of the extradural infusion technique demanded significant medical and nursing time especially to overcome technical problems.

Topics: Adolescent; Analgesia, Epidural; Bupivacaine; Child; Child, Preschool; Heroin; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; London; Medical Audit; Pain, Postoperative; Patient Satisfaction; Pruritus; Respiratory Insufficiency; Treatment Outcome; Urinary Retention

An audit of postoperative epidural analgesia in a District General Hospital is presented. Three hundred and forty-eight patients received epidural infusions of a bupivacaine and diamorphine mixture, and were managed on general surgical wards using a standard protocol of observations and instructions. Good analgesia was achieved in 339 (97%) patients. Respiratory depression, defined as a respiratory rate of eight breaths.min-1 or less, occurred in 22 (6%) patients, was of gradual onset, and was simply and successfully managed without morbidity. There were no respiratory arrests. Other complications, and the significance of catheter insertion level are discussed.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analgesia, Epidural; Bupivacaine; Female; Heroin; Humans; Male; Medical Audit; Middle Aged; Pain, Postoperative; Respiratory Insufficiency; Surgical Procedures, Operative

The mortality rate from heroin overdose in Italy between 1977 and 1987 increased significantly. However, in the same period, a significant increase was not observed in Tuscany, an administrative region in Italy. This study was performed to determine if the prehospital emergency medical system of Florence, the capital of Tuscany (the only one operating in Italy during the study period), affected this lower mortality rate.. Retrospective study.. The Florence system consists of 17 mobile ICUs, each of which is staffed by a physician and three paramedics. These units are able to carry out advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation with equipment transported to the scene of an emergency.. A total of 126 consecutive patients with heroin overdose, assisted by four mobile ICUs from January 1, 1984 through December 31, 1987.. Common therapeutic protocol in the treatment of heroin overdose and of cardiac arrest.. Fifty-two (41.3%) patients were in respiratory arrest, and seven (5.6%) patients were in cardiorespiratory arrest. The prehospital mortality rate was 1.6%, the inhospital mortality rate was 0.8%, and the overall mortality rate was 2.4%. During the period considered, the number of heroin overdose-related interventions increased significantly, as did the number of heroin overdoses complicated by respiratory arrest or by cardiorespiratory arrest, but the mortality rate remained low.. We suggest that an emergency medical system can play an important role in reducing the mortality rate from heroin overdose.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Ambulances; Analysis of Variance; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Chi-Square Distribution; Drug Overdose; Emergency Medical Services; Heart Arrest; Heroin; Humans; Italy; Respiratory Insufficiency; Retrospective Studies

Two incidence have occurred in our hospital when a patient-controlled analgesia pump has accidentally delivered the whole contents of the syringe of diamorphine (60 mg) over a period of approximately 1 h. Electrical corruption of the pumps' program has been identified as the probable cause. All pumps of this type have been modified to prevent such occurrences.

Topics: Aged; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; Equipment Failure; Female; Heroin; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pain, Postoperative; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; Respiratory Insufficiency

We report the use of extradural diamorphine for postoperative analgesia as a nurse-based service on selected surgical wards in a district general hospital. Eight hundred patients received lumbar or thoracic extradural diamorphine analgesia for postoperative or traumatic pain. Diamorphine was administered in bolus form by suitably trained nursing staff. Satisfactory analgesia, recorded on a verbal rating scale at the conclusion of the service, was achieved in 94.6% of patients. The technique was considered by medical and nursing staff to be a safe and acceptable method of analgesia. Respiratory depression, defined as a ventilatory frequency of less than 10 b.p.m., occurred in seven patients (incidence of 0.9%). All occurred in the theatre recovery area or in the intensive care unit. Retrospectively, each was predictable and all responded to naloxone 0.4 mg.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analgesia, Epidural; England; Female; Heroin; Hospitals, District; Hospitals, General; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Nursing Audit; Nursing Service, Hospital; Pain, Postoperative; Respiratory Insufficiency

Narcotic-induced respiratory depression in a 25-year-old man was completely reversed with the administration of intralingual naloxone. Use of this route has been advocated when the IV route is unobtainable. No specific case report or case data have been published regarding this route.

Topics: Adult; Heroin; Humans; Injections; Male; Naloxone; Respiratory Insufficiency; Tongue

Topics: Coma; Emergencies; Heroin; Humans; Naloxone; Respiration, Artificial; Respiratory Insufficiency

Two cases of severe respiratory depression complicating epidural diamorphine administration are reported. In both cases, the dura had been punctured. The risk of epidural opiate administration in association with a breach in the dura is reiterated.

Topics: Aged; Dura Mater; Epidural Space; Female; Heroin; Humans; Injections; Male; Pain, Postoperative; Respiratory Insufficiency

Topics: Aged; Female; Heroin; Humans; Morphinans; Nalbuphine; Postoperative Complications; Respiratory Insufficiency; Time Factors

Topics: Buprenorphine; Heroin; Humans; Morphinans; Myocardial Infarction; Respiratory Insufficiency

Immediate attention must be given to the respiratory system of the heroin abuser; then he should be given naloxone HCl. Search for evidence of use of additional drugs, which may compound problems. Pulmonary edema, aspiration pneumonia and pulmonary embolization are the most common complications. Infections, particularly endocarditis, and cardiac arrhythmia also occur with heroin overdose. Hepatitis is common. Treatment must include not only attention to the presenting symptoms but also referral to a rehabilitation center when possible.

Topics: Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Emergency Service, Hospital; Endocarditis; Female; Genital Diseases, Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Infections; Male; Methadone; Naloxone; Pulmonary Edema; Respiratory Insufficiency

Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Electrocardiography; Female; Fetal Diseases; Fetus; Heart Diseases; Hepatitis A; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Injections, Intramuscular; Injections, Intravenous; Injections, Subcutaneous; Lung Diseases; Male; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Methods; Neurologic Manifestations; Pneumonia, Aspiration; Pregnancy; Pulmonary Edema; Pulmonary Embolism; Respiratory Insufficiency; Skin Diseases

Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Enterobacteriaceae Infections; Female; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Hemiplegia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Pseudomonas Infections; Pulmonary Embolism; Respiratory Insufficiency; Splenomegaly; Staphylococcal Infections; Streptococcal Infections; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Adult; Bronchiectasis; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypoxia; Inhalation; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Male; Radiography; Respiratory Function Tests; Respiratory Insufficiency; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Emergencies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Nalorphine; Naloxone; Pulmonary Edema; Respiratory Insufficiency; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Heroin; Humans; Nalorphine; Naloxone; Pulmonary Edema; Respiration; Respiratory Insufficiency; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Adult; Alcoholism; Child; Female; Hepatitis A; Heroin; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Diseases; Lung Diseases; Male; Middle Aged; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Pneumonia; Respiratory Insufficiency; Syndrome

Topics: Acidosis; Acidosis, Respiratory; Airway Obstruction; Carbon Dioxide; Heroin; Humans; Hypercapnia; Hypothyroidism; Hypoventilation; Hypoxia; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Neuromuscular Diseases; Oxygen; Pulmonary Alveoli; Pulmonary Circulation; Pulmonary Edema; Pulmonary Embolism; Respiration; Respiratory Insufficiency; Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio; Work of Breathing

Topics: Accidents, Home; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Heroin; Humans; Infant; Male; Methadone; Nalorphine; Respiratory Insufficiency

Topics: Adult; Heroin; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Morphine Dependence; Respiration, Artificial; Respiratory Center; Respiratory Insufficiency