Purpose: Nutritional therapy is a crucial component of therapy for critically ill patients, but there is a lack of nutritional support guidelines for organophosphate (OP) poisoning, likely due to the gastrointestinal effects of atropine, the main antidote for OP. This study investigated whether enteral nutrition (EN) during atropinization is acceptable for mechanically ventilated patients after OP poisoning.
Methods This retrospective study classified 82 patients with OP poisoning according to whether they were fed during atropinization while on mechanical ventilation (MV). Data on the baseline characteristics, nutritional support, and clinical outcomes were compared. Univariate and multivariate regression models were constructed to analyze the associations between atropine administration for OP poisoning and feeding intolerance-related EN after adjustment for risk factors.
Results Eighty-two patients received EN after 72 hours on MV, and 40 of them simultaneously received 2 mg/hr atropine for the first 120 hours after EN initiation. The overall incidence of feeding intolerance was 57.3% during the first 12 days after EN initiation and did not differ according to atropine administration. Appropriate atropinization during EN in regression model 1 and the dosage of atropine administered during EN and the duration of EN during atropinization in model 2 were not associated with feeding intolerance in patients on MV after OP poisoning.
Conclusion Appropriate atropinization is not associated with feeding intolerance after EN provision in patients on MV after OP poisoning. This study will help establish nutritional guidelines for OP poisoning patients. More research on nutritional support is needed to validate our results.
Elapid snakes have neurotoxic venom which causes diverse neuroparalytic manifestations, including fatal respiratory failure. In South Korea, since elapid snakebites are very rare, the cobra antivenom, which is effective against neurotoxicity, was only introduced recently. Most physicians in South Korea have little experience in the treatment of patients who have been bitten by elapid snakes. A 19-year-old man was brought to the emergency department with sudden diplopia, 1 hour after a snakebite on the left 2nd finger. The patient presented with drowsiness and complained of mild dizziness and binocular diplopia. After 1 hour, he had sudden onset of dyspnea and dysphagia and appeared to be agitated. He was immediately intubated and received mechanical ventilation as he was unable to breathe on his own. A total of 2.5 mg of neostigmine diluted with normal saline was slowly infused, and 1 vial of cobra antivenom was infused for an hour, 5 times every 2 hours, for a total of 5 vials. He slowly recovered self-breathing; on the 3rd day of hospitalization, he showed tolerable breathing and was extubated. He was discharged without any neurological deficits or other complications.
Purpose: Glyphosate herbicide (GH) is a widely used herbicide and has been associated with significant mortality as poisoned cases increases. One of the reasons for high toxicity is thought to be toxic effect of its ingredient with glyphosate. This study was designed to determine differences in the clinical course with the salt-type contained in GH. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at a single hospital between January 2013 and December 2017. We enrolled GH-poisoned patients visited the emergency department. According to salt-type, patients were divided into 4 groups: isopropylamine (IPA), ammonium (Am), potassium (Po), and mixed salts (Mi) groups. The demographics, laboratory variables, complications, and their mortality were analyzed to determine clinical differences associated with each salt-type. Addtionally, we subdivided patients into survivor and non-survivor groups for investigating predictive factors for the mortality. Results: Total of 348 GH-poisoned patients were divided as follows: IPA 248, Am 41, Po 10, and Mi 49 patients. There was no difference in demographic or underlying disease history, but systolic blood pressure (SBP) was low in Po group. The ratio of intentional ingestion was higher in Po and Mi groups. Metabolic acidosis and relatively high lactate level were presented in Po group. As the primary outcome, the mortality rates were as follows: IPA, 26 (10.5%); Am, 2 (4.9%); Po, 1 (10%); and Mi, 1 (2%). There was no statistically significant difference in the mortality and the incidence of complications. Additionally, age, low SBP, low pH, corrected QT (QTc) prolongation, and respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation were analyzed as independent predictors for mortality in a regression analysis. Conclusion: There was no statistical difference in their complications and the mortality across the GH-salt groups in this study.
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Association between continuous renal replacement therapy and mortality after acute herbicide (glyphosate and/or glufosinate) intoxication: propensity score matching approach Seung Woo Lee, Won-joon Jeong, Seung Ryu, Yongchul Cho, Yeonho You, Jung Soo Park, Changshin Kang, Hong Joon Ahn, So Young Jeon, Jinwoong Lee Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology.2023; 21(1): 17. CrossRef
Purpose: Atropine is an antidote used to relieve muscarinic symptoms in patients with organophosphate and carbamate poisoning. Nutritional support via the enteral nutrition (EN) route might be associated with improved clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. This study examined the administration of nutritional support in patients undergoing atropinization, including methods of supply, outcomes, and complications. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital from 2010 to 2018. Forty-five patients, who were administered with atropine and on mechanical ventilation (MV) due to organophosphate or carbamate poisoning, were enrolled. Results: Nutritional support was initiated on the third day of hospitalization. Thirty-three patients (73.3%) were initially supported using parenteral nutrition (PN). During atropinization, 32 patients (71.1%) received nutritional support via EN (9) or PN (23). There was no obvious reason for not starting EN during atropinization (61.1%). Pneumonia was observed in both patient groups on EN and PN (p=0.049). Patients without nutritional support had a shorter MV duration (p=0.034) than patients with nutritional support. The methods of nutritional support during atropinization did not show differences in the number of hospital days (p=0.711), MV duration (p=0.933), duration of ICU stay (p=0.850), or recovery at discharge (p=0.197). Conclusion: Most patients undergoing atropinization were administered PN without obvious reasons to preclude EN. Nutritional support was not correlated with the treatment outcomes or pneumonia. From these results, it might be possible to choose EN in patients undergoing atropinization, but further studies will be necessary.
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Enteral nutrition in mechanically ventilated patients after organophosphate poisoning Sang U Bark, Jeong Mi Moon, Byeng Jo Chun Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology.2024; 22(1): 1. CrossRef
Acute respiratory failure is an important risk factor for mortality in patients with acute pesticide poisoning. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the risk factors to predict respiratory failure in these patients. This study retrospectively investigated the clinical features of respiratory failure among patients with acute pesticide poisoning requiring mechanical ventilation. This study included patients who were admitted with intentional poisoning by pesticide ingestion from January 2017 to December 2019. Paraquat intoxication was excluded. Among 469 patients with acute pesticide poisoning, 398 patients were enrolled in this study. The respiratory failure rate was 30.4%. The rate of respiratory failure according to the type of pesticide was carbamate (75.0%), organophosphate (52.6%), glufosinate (52.1%), glyphosate (23%), pyrethroid (8.9%), and others (17%). The mortality was 25.6% in the respiratory failure group. The risk factors for respiratory failure were old age, low body mass index, and ingestion of more than 300 mL. In conclusion, respiratory failure is a risk factor for mortality in pesticide poisoning. Old age, low body mass index, and ingestion of more than 300 mL are the risk factors for predicting respiratory failure.
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The 2022 Annual Report on Toxicology Surveillance and Severe Poisoning Cases at Emergency Departments in Korea Eun Sun Lee, Su Jin Kim, Gyu Chong Cho, Mi Jin Lee, Byung Hak So, Kyung Su Kim, Juhyun Song, Sung Woo Lee Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology.2023; 21(1): 1. CrossRef
Machine Learning-Based Prediction Models of Acute Respiratory Failure in Patients with Acute Pesticide Poisoning Yeongmin Kim, Minsu Chae, Namjun Cho, Hyowook Gil, Hwamin Lee Mathematics.2022; 10(24): 4633. CrossRef
Tetramine toxicity due to sea snail ingestion is generally mild and has a good prognosis. Tetramine toxicity acts on the acetylcholine receptor, affecting the neuromuscular junction and autonomic nervous system. A 78-year-old female patient visited the emergency room with vomiting and dyspnea after eating sea snails. At the time of admission, the vital signs recorded were 140/80 mmHg-105/min-24/min-36.5℃, and 90% oxygen saturation. Arterial blood test revealed hypercapnia (pCO2 58.2 mmHg) and respiratory acidosis (pH 7.213, HCO3- 22.5 mmol/L), whereas other blood tests showed no specific findings. Due to decreased consciousness and hypoxia, endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation were administered to the patient. Successful weaning was accomplished after 12 hrs, and the patient was discharged without any further complications. Although tetramine toxicity rarely results in acute respiratory failure due to paralysis of the respiratory muscle, caution is required whilst treating the patient.
Benzoylureas are chemical compounds best known for their use as insecticides. Diflubenzuron is one of the more commonly used benzoylurea pesticides. Others include chlorfluazuron, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron, and triflumuron. They act as insect growth regulators by inhibiting synthesis of chitin in the body of the insect. They have low toxicity in mammals because mammals have no chitin. Chlorfluazuron insecticides, which are mixed with solvent naphatha, are commonly used. Thus we assume that in the presented case mental change outcome of poisoning was connected with toxic effects of solvent naphtha rather than with chlorfluazuron action. Components of solvent naphtha, particularly trimethylbenzenes, exert strong irritant action on the gastric mucosa and are very well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. We report on a 67-year-old man with stuporous mentality after intentional ingestion of approximately 200 ml of liquid chlorfluazuron in a suicide attempt. He was discharged after conservative treatments including gastric irrigation, charcoal, mechanical ventilation, hydration, and antibiotics for aspiration pneumonia without complications.
Purpose: We conducted this study in order to determine clinical features and prognostic factors in adults with acute tetrodotoxin (TTX) poisoning caused by ingestion of puffer fish. Methods: In this retrospective study, 107 patients were diagnosed with TTX poisoning. The subjects were divided into two groups according to duration of treatment; Group I, patients were discharged within 48 hours (n=76, 71.0%), Group II patients were discharged after more than 48 hours (n=31, 29.0%). Group II was subsequently divided into two subgroups [IIa (n=12, 11.2%), IIb (n=19, 17.8%)] according to the need for mechanical ventilation support. Results: In multivariable logistic regression analysis, the predictors of the need for treatment over 48 hours were dizziness (odds ratio [OR], 4.72; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.59-12.83), time interval between onset of symptom and ingestion (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.16-0.97), $PaCO_2$<35 mmHg (OR, 8.37; 95% CI, 2.37-23.59). In addition, predictors of the need for mechanical ventilation were a time interval between onset of symptoms and ingestion (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.11-0.96) and $PaCO_2$<35 mmHg (OR, 5.65; 95% CI, 1.96-18.66). Conclusion: Overall, dizziness, time interval between onset of symptoms and ingestion, ${Delta}DBP$ and $PaCO_2$<35 mmHg predict the need for treatment over 48 hours, time interval between onset of symptoms and ingestion and $PaCO_2$<35 mmHg predict the need for mechanical ventilation support after acute TTX poisoning.
Purpose: The optimal dose of oximes for use in the treatment of organophosphorus pesticide poisoning has not been conclusively established. In this retrospective study, we assessed the effectiveness of the use of high-dose pralidoxime infusion in treating organophosphorus pesticide poisoning. Methods: From January 1998 to December 2009, 71 patients visited the hospital Emergency Department (ED) as a result of organophosphate pesticide intoxication. All of these patients received an initial bolus of 2 g of pralidoxime as the first step of treatment. Patients who then received continuous infusion of pralidoxime at a dose of 500 mg/hr were entered into study group 1 (low dose), and those treated by continuous infusion of pralidoxime at a dose of 1000 mg/hr were entered into study group 2 (high-dose). Plasma cholinesterase activities for each patient were evaluated at ED arrival and re-evaluated 24 hours after pralidoxime infusion. The effectiveness of the two treatment modalities was gauged by comparing the required duration of mechanical ventilation, time spent in the intensive care unit (ICU) and total time spent in the hospital. Results: The mean duration of mechanical ventilation was $9.98{pm}6.47$ days for group 1 and $4.39{pm}6.44$ days for group 2. The respective mean duration of time spent in ICU and the total number of days in the hospital were $16.38{pm}18.84$ days and $21.87{pm}20.16$ days for group 1, and $7.83{pm}9.99$ days and $11.71{pm}13.53$ days for group 2. Highdose pralidoxime treatment was associated with shorter required durations for mechanical ventilation, ICU and hospital stay. In addition, plasma cholinesterase reactivation rates were higher for those patients receiving high-dose pralidoxime treatment. Conclusion: The results suggest that high-dose pralidoxime treatment has greater efficacy for patients suffering from organophosphorus pesticide poisoning.
Trichloroethylene (TCE, $C_2HCl_3$), which was introduced as a gas for general anesthesia and analgesia in early 1900's has been widely used in industry as an organic solvent. Occupational exposure to TCE is an important medical problem. Manifestations of acute exposure to TCE include mucocutaneous irritation, hepatotoxicity, cognitive impairment, sleep, headache, respiratory insufficiency and death. We report a 38-year-old man who was admitted to a department of emergency medicine after occupational inhalation exposure to TCE. He rapidly developed semicoma and respiratory depression. After mechanical ventilation, hypercapnea and hypoxemia disappeared and his mental state again became alert. Careful evaluation and proper respiratory support are important for respiratory failure after occupational TCE inhalation.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that predict using mechanical ventilation for patients with organophosphate intoxication. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 111 patients with acute organophosphate intoxication and who were treated in our emergency center from January 2000 to December 2008. We compared the toxicologic characteristics, the laboratory findings and the APACHE II scores between the Mechanical Ventilation group (MV group) and the non-Mechanical Ventilation group (the non MV group). Results: Sixty three patients were in the MV group and 48 patients were in the non MV group. In the MV group, the patients had an older age (p<0.001), a larger amount of ingestion (p<0.001), a lower initial serum cholinesterase level (p=0.003), a higher APACHE II score (p<0.001) and they ingested a more toxic agent (p=0.001). There were no significant differences in gender, the type of visit and the arrival time between the MV group and the non MV group. Conclusion: We suggest that the patient's age, the amount of organophosphate ingestion, the toxicity of the agent, the initial serum cholinesterase level and the APACHE II score are important factors to determine if mechanical ventilation will be applied for patients with organophosphate intoxication.
Purpose: Neonicotinoid insecticides are widely used as they have been proven by experimental studies to have low toxicity to mammals, including humans. As the use of neonicotioids increases, the number of patients with neonicotinoid poisoning has also increased. We conducted a study to investigate the clinical manifestations of neonicotinid poisoning. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the patients who ingested neonicotinids and who visited the emergency department located in Korea from March 2002 to February 2010. We reviewed the patients' age, gender, the amount of exposure, the elapsed time to presentation, the treatment and the outcome. According to the poisoning severity score, we divided the patients with a Poisoning severity score (PSS) of 0 or 1 into the mild/moderate toxicity group and the patients with a PSS of 2 or 3 into the severe/fatal toxicity group. Results: A total of 24 patients were analyzed. The most common clinical manifestations of neonicotinoid insecticide toxicity were gastrointestinal symptoms (66.7%) such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain and the others are respiratory symptoms (16.7%), cardiovascular symptoms (12.5%), metabolic imbalance (12.5%), renal dysfunction (8.3%), CNS symptoms (8.3%), and asymptomatic (29.2%). Twenty patients (83.3%) showed mild/moderate toxicity and 4 patients (16.7%) showed fatal conditions such as shock and mutiorgan failure. The mortality rate was 4.2%. In these fatal cases, the patients developed respiratory failure, hypotension, altered mentality and renal failure at the acute stage and they deteriorated to a more serious condition. This severe toxicity was caused by decreased renal excretion of neonicotinid metabolite, and this was improved after hemodialysis. Conclusion: Most patients with neonicotinoid poisoning and who showed mild toxicity usually improved after symptomatic treatment. However, some patients showed significant toxicity with respiratory failure and renal function deterioration, and intensive care needed, including mechanical ventilation and hemodialysis.
Purpose: In highly doses, endosulfan lowers the seizure threshold and elicits central nervous system stimulation, which can result in seizures, respiratory failure, and death. Management of seizure control is essential for survival and prognosis of intoxicated patients. This study assessed whether seizure time was an independent predictor mortality in patients with endosulfan poisoning. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled patients with endosulfan poisoning presenting to Masan Samsung Hospital and Gyeongsang National University Hospital from January 2003 to December 2008. The data were collected from clinical records and laboratory files. Using a multivariate logistic analysis, data on the total population was retrospectively analyzed for association with mortality. Results: Of the 24 patients with endosulfan poisoning, nineteen (79.1%) experienced seizure. The patients in the seizure group showed significantly lower Glasgow coma scale score, base excess, bicarbonate, and significant existence of mechanical ventilation, as compared to the non seizure group (n=5). Seizure, Glasgow coma scale score, systolic blood pressure, bicarbonate level, need for respiratory support, pulse rate, respiratory rate, pH, base excess, and seizure time were associated with mortality. The fatality rate of endosulfan poisoning was 54.1% with higher mortality among patients experiencing. Longer seizure time was associated with higher mortality. Conclusion: Seizure time can be a significant independent predictor of mortality in patients with acute endosulfan poisoning. Physicians should aggressively treat for seizure control in patients with acute endosulfan poisoning.
Purpose: Acute organophosphate (OP) poisoning may be monitored by measuring the acetylcholinesterase (AChE). It is important to assess severity and establish prognostic tests in the early stage of OP poisoning. The aim of this study was to look at the relationship between various clinical aspects of the OP poisoning, prognostic indicators of OP poisoning including Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) 3, and the associated changes in AChE levels. Methods: Clinical data and initial AChE levels from thirty-seven patients with OP poisoning were prospectively reviewed from 12 teaching hospitals in South Korea from August 2005 to July 2006. Clinical manifestations at the time of arrival such as miosis, respiratory abnormality, salivation, urinary incontinence, GCS score, AVPU scale, need for intubation, and mechanical ventilation requirements were recorded. SAPS 3 was calculated using clinical data and laboratory results. Results: The median level of AChE was 9.8 (1.3-53.6) U/gHb. There was no significant difference in AChE levels between the groups with and without cholinergic symptoms. The median level of AChE of the patients who required intubation and those who did not were 3.5 U/gHb and it 19.7 U/gHb respectively (Mann-Whitney test; p<0.001). The AChE levels were also significantly different (p=0.007) in patients who needed mechanical ventilation compared to those who did not with AChE levels found to be 3.1 U/gHb and it was 14.8 U/gHb, respectively. Level of consciousness assessed using the AVPU scale was correlated with AChE levels (Kruskal-Wallis test; p=0.013). GCS score were correlated with AChE levels (p=0.007, Spearman's rho = 0.454). In addition, the lower the level of initial AChE, the longer the ICU stay (p=0.029, Spearman's rho=-0.380). SAPS 3 was inversely correlated with the initial AChE (p<0.001, Spearman's rho=-0.633). Conclusion: In the acute OP poisoning, low AChE levels appear to help indicate the severity of poisoning. The initial AChE level may be a useful prognostic parameter for acute OP poisoning.
Purpose: The major complication of acute organophosphate (OP) poisoning is respiratory failure as a result of cholinergic toxicity. Many clinicians find it difficult to predict the optimal time to initiate mechanical ventilation (MV) weaning, and as a result have tended to provide a prolonged ventilator support period. The purpose of this study is to determine any clinical predictors based on patients characteristics and laboratory findings to assist in the optimal timing of mechanical ventilator weaning. Methods: We reviewed medical and intensive care records of 44 patients with acute OP poisoning who required mechanical ventilation admitted to medical intensive care unit between July 1998 and June 2007. Patient information regarding the poisoning, clinical data and demographic features, APACHE II score, laboratory data, and serial cholinesterase (chE) levels were collected. Base on the time period of MV, the patients were divided into two groups: early group (wean time < 7 days, n = 28) and delayed group (${geq}$ 7 days, n = 16). Patients were assessed for any clinical characteristics and predictors associated with the MV weaning period. Results: During the study period, 44 patients were enrolled in this study. We obtained the sensitivity and specificity values of predictors in the late weaning group. APACHE II score and a reciprocal convert of hypoxic index but specificity (83.8%) is only APACHE II score. Also, the chE concentration (rho = -0.517, p = 0.026) and APACHE II score (rho = 0.827, p < 0.001) correlated with a longer mechanical ventilation duration. Conclusion: In patients with acute OP poisoning who required mechanical ventilation, the APACHE II scoring system on a point scale of less than 17 and decrements in cholinesterase levels on 1-3 days were good predictors of delayed MV weaning.