When a patient presents to the hospital:
(1) Determine the severity of clinical findings.
(2) Obtain a chest X-ray.
(3) Try to determine the type and volume of hydrocarbon ingested.
Patients who should be directly admitted into the hospital:
(1) Symptomatic patients with an abnormal initial chest X-ray.
(2) Patients with suicidal intent.
(3) Patients after massive ingestion.
(4) Hypoxic patients.
(5) Obtunded patients.
(6) Patients with a markedly abnormal chest X-ray.
Patients who should be admitted after a 6 hour observation period:
(1) A patient with a mildly abnormal chest X-ray who becomes symptomatic during the observation period.
(2) A patient who become symptomatic due to a toxic additive.
(3) Mildly symptomatic patients who do not improve during the observation period.
(4) A patient who cannot be discharged into the care of a responsible adult or who may be unable to receive medical care.
Patients who can be discharged home in the care of a responsible adult:
(1) A patient with a normal chest X-ray who is asymptomatic after 6 hours of observation.
(2) A patient with a mildly abnormal chest X-ray who remains asymptomatic during the observation period.
