ISCCM Textbook of Toxicology: Treating Critically Ill Poisoned Patients – Clinical Guide

This book is an important initiative to address the issues related to severe poisonings encountered in South East Asia, especially focused on problems in the Indian subcontinent. The book has been divided into 4 sections with the first section focusing on approach to a poisoned patient, clinical and laboratory diagnosis, and resuscitation in the emergency room as well as intensive care units. There is an important aspect discussed here that focuses on dealing with the comprehensive psychiatric assessment of the victim. The second section focuses on the individual toxins and covers the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management in a more detailed fashion. The emphasis here is on the specific management issues related to commonly encountered local toxins like pesticides, herbicides, commonly encountered household toxins, envenomation, plant poisons, heavy metal, and Complementary and Alternate Medicine (CAM) toxicities. There is an important aspect discussed here dealing with the comprehensive psychiatric assessment of the victim. The threats of chemical and biological terrorism are also covered here, which is the need of the hour. The third section deals with supportive care of poisoned patients, with special reference to the intensive care unit. This section addresses the nuances of cardiovascular support, ventilatory support, renal replacement therapy, plasma exchange, and endoscopic management. The last section deals with individual antidotes. The issues regarding the dose and duration of individual antidotes have been adequately addressed here.