Letters
Emergency medicine
Volume 180 - Issue 9

Sublingual glyceryl trinitrate as prehospital treatment for hypertension in Irukandji syndrome

Author:  Richard J G Bonham

Med J Aust 2004; 180 (9): 482-484. || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2004.tb06036.x
Published online: 3 May 2004
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Richard J G Bonham

Medical Director, Queensland Ambulance Service, PO Box 1425, Brisbane, QLD 4001. rbonhamATemergency.qld.gov.au

Comment: I would like to clarify a few points. Firstly, all Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) paramedics use glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) frequently to treat cardiac chest pain, and have done so for many years. They are very familiar with its effects and interactions.

Secondly, a small number of intensive care paramedics (ICPs), the top tier of officer, with many years of training and experience and tertiary qualifications, have, for a number of years, been authorised to consult with the senior doctor at the receiving hospital for use of GTN to treat acute severe hypertension. In Queensland, GTN has been used for this indication in one or two patients per year, compared with its use in 25 000 patients with cardiac chest pain.

Finally, QAS reviewed its protocol for managing marine envenomation after two people died from Irukandji syndrome two years ago. The current protocol for suspected Irukandji stings is now standard care, including oxygen, and vinegar if there is a visible sting, followed by aggressive pain management, including up to 30 mg of morphine intravenously. If the patient has significant hypertension (> 200/120 mmHg) after effective analgesia, ICP officers are able to consult with a senior doctor to administer GTN according to the above protocol. Obviously, the concern of the QAS Medical Advisory Council (comprising representatives of all medical specialty colleges and other medical groups) was to prevent avoidable cerebral haemorrhage or acute heart failure, as occurred in the two deaths from Irukandji syndrome, but, to date, such use of GTN has not been invoked.

Author

  • Richard J G Bonham1
  • 1. Queensland Ambulance Service, PO Box 1425, Brisbane, QLD 4001.

Correspondence: rbonham@emergency.qld.gov.au

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