Management of Organophosphorus Poisoning

Sangha Ratna Bajracharya; Pratap Narayan Prasad; Rakesh Ghimire

doi:10.33314/jnhrc.v14i3.868

Sangha Ratna Bajracharya Department of Clinical Pharmacology Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Pratap Narayan Prasad Department of Emergency and General Practice, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Rakesh Ghimire Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33314/jnhrc.v14i3.868

Abstract

Organophosphorus (OP) compounds are widely used for agriculture, domestic pest-control and chemical warfare. Pesticide self-poisoning accounts for one-sixth to one-eighth of the worldâ€™s suicides and a third of suicide deaths in rural Asia each year. OP pesticides inhibit cholinesterase enzymes leading to overstimulation of cholinergic receptors. Clinical features depend on the types of receptors stimulated at various sites of the body. The diagnosis of OP poisoning is made on the basis of history of poisoning, smell of pesticides, the characteristic clinical signs and reduced cholinesterase activity. Measurement of plasma cholinesterase is useful for diagnosis of OP poisoning although it may not directly correlate with severity of the poisoning. Atropine remains the main stay of treatment of OP poisoning with clear evidence of benefit if administered effectively. Atropine therapy should be monitored to maintain systolic blood pressure > 80 mmHg, pulse > 80 beats/min and clear chest on auscultation. Oximes reactivate cholinesterase enzymes and help to overcome even the nicotinic effects of OP poisoning. However, evidence for its effectiveness after self-poisoning is weak. Although several newer adjuvant therapies are tried to achieve better outcome, their potential benefits are not yet established.
Keywords: Cholinesterase management; organophosphorus poisoning.