Many patients with lead poisoning can be managed as outpatients. Leikin and Paloucek listed indications for when to admit a patient with lead poisoning to the hospital.
Indications for admitting a patient with lead poisoning to the hospital:
(1) clinically symptomatic, especially with encephalopathy
(2) blood lead level > 60 µg/dL (2.9 µmol/L)
(3) free erythrocyte porphyrin level >= 7 times the upper limit of normal
(4) abdominal X-rays showing radiio-opacitiies in the gastrointestinal tract and/or kidney
The mortality of encephalopathy can be high, so aggressive management is required.
An additional indication may be adverse reaction to outpatient chelation therapy.
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
