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Cocaine-induced agitated delirium: a case report and review
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Cocaine-induced agitated delirium: a case report and review

Theodore Plush, Walter Shakespeare, Dorian Jacobs, Larry Ladi, Sheeba Sethi and James Gasperino
Journal of intensive care medicine, v 30(1), pp 49-57
Jan 2015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0885066613507420
PMID: 24212597
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://doi.org/10.1161/circoutcomes.116.003350View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Maybe Open Access (Publisher Bronze),  Open

Abstract

Acetylcysteine - administration & dosage Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage Cocaine-Related Disorders - complications Cocaine-Related Disorders - diagnosis Cocaine-Related Disorders - therapy Critical Care - methods Delirium - chemically induced Early Diagnosis Fever - chemically induced Humans Intubation, Intratracheal Male Middle Aged Psychomotor Agitation - etiology Treatment Outcome Urinary Catheterization
Cocaine use continues to be a major public health problem in the United States. Although many of the initial signs and symptoms of cocaine intoxication result from increased stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, this condition can present as a spectrum of acuity from hypertension and tachycardia to multiorgan system failure. Classic features of acute intoxication include tachycardia, arterial vasoconstriction, enhanced thrombus formation, mydriasis, psychomotor agitation, and altered level of consciousness. At the extreme end of this toxidrome is a rare condition known as cocaine-induced agitated delirium. This syndrome is characterized by severe cardiopulmonary dysfunction, hyperthermia, and acute neurologic changes frequently leading to death. We report a case of cocaine-induced agitated delirium in a man who presented to our institution in a paradoxical form of circulatory shock. Rapid evaluation, recognition, and proper management enabled our patient not only to survive but also to leave the hospital without neurologic sequelae.

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21 Record Views
21 citations in Web of Science
23 citations in Scopus

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Web of Science research areas
Critical Care Medicine
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