Medical College of Wisconsin
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Inhalational and percutaneous methanol toxicity in two firefighters. Ann Emerg Med 1993 Dec;22(12):1916-8

Date

12/01/1993

Pubmed ID

8239116

DOI

10.1016/s0196-0644(05)80423-8

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0027489080 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   23 Citations

Abstract

We present two cases of adult inhalational and percutaneous methanol toxicity resulting from transient exposure to vaporized methanol. Both patients complained only of a mild headache at the time of the emergency department evaluation and had normal physical examinations, normal anion gaps, and peak methanol levels of 23 and 16 mg/dL, respectively. Emergency physicians should recognize the potential for toxic transcutaneous absorption of methanol. Because of the varying relationship between clinical symptoms, physical examination findings, and anion gap values to potentially toxic methanol exposures, acquisition of empiric serum methanol levels appears warranted in appropriate situations.

Author List

Aufderheide TP, White SM, Brady WJ, Stueven HA

Author

Tom P. Aufderheide MD Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Administration, Inhalation
Adolescent
Adult
Fires
Humans
Male
Methanol
Occupational Exposure
Poisoning
Skin Absorption