Contributors: Travis Barlock MD, Ian Gillman PA, Jacob Altholz MD, Jeffrey Olson MS4

In this episode, EM attending Travis Barlock and medical student Jeffrey Olson listen in to the two remaining cases presented from EMM's recent event, Tox Talk 2025.

Talk 1- Methemoglobinemia- Ian Gillman

Cyanosis + chocolate-colored blood + normal PaO₂ + pulse ox stuck at ~85% = Methemoglobinemia → Treat with methylene blue
The medications that can cause it can be remembered with…
Watch out with methylene blue as it can cause serotonin syndrome
While treating with methylene blue the pulse ox can drop dramatically but this is not a real drop in oxygenation but rather an effect of how the methylene blue affects the sensor
BADNAPS: causes of methemoglobinemia

Benzocaine
Aniline Dyes
Dapsone
Nitrites/Nitrates (Found in meds, preservatives, and well water)
Antimalarials
Pyridium
Sulfonamides

Talk 2- Intratecal TXA and Hierarchy of Controls for Error Avoidance - Jacob Altholz

Hierarchy of Controls in terms of error prevention includes all of the layers of protection which can be categorized as elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administration controls, and PPE

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, April 28). Hierarchy of controls. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/learning/safetyculturehc/module-3/2.html
Pushparajah Mak RS, Liebelt EL. Methylene Blue: An Antidote for Methemoglobinemia and Beyond. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2021 Sep 1;37(9):474-477. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000002526. PMID: 34463662.

Produced by Jeffrey Olson, MS4

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Tox Talks 2025 Recap 2, Methemoglobinemia and Errors

Emergency Medical Minute