Pulmonary Management in Aluminum Phosphide Poisoning

OUP accepted manuscript

Introduction

We recently derived a simplified 3-point PGI score (representing blood pH < 7.25, Glasgow coma scale [GCS] score < 13, and impaired systolic blood pressure [SBP] < 90 mm Hg), which accurately predicted in-hospital case fatality ratio (CFR) in acute aluminum phosphide poisoning. The present study aimed to validate the PGI score and compare it with Acute Physiologic Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (SOFA), and Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II scores.

Patients and Methods

We performed a prospective cohort study in adult patients with aluminum phosphide ingestion admitted in PGIMER, Chandigarh (India), from April 2013 to August 2014. A univariant analysis detected the association of various baseline variables with CFR. Correlation of the PGI score with SOFA, SAPS-II, and APACHE-II scores was performed using Spearman's correlation (r_s , range -1 to +1) and scatter plots.

Results

Seventy-six patients were enrolled (mean age, 28.3 years; 41 males). CFR was 60.5%. PGI score variables-pH, GCS, and impaired SBP predicted CFR (P-value <0.001). Among patients with a total PGI score of 3 or 2, 100% died, compared with 50% in score 1 and 10.7% in score 0. Baseline PGI, SOFA, SAPS-II, and APACHE-II scores predicted CFR (P-value <0.001). There was a positive correlation between the PGI score and SOFA score (r_s , 0.855), SAPS-II score (r_s , 0.861), and APACHE-II score (r_s , 0.883). The P-value for all r_s values was <0.001.

Conclusion

The PGI score is a validated toxidrome-specific and simplified risk-stratification tool. Validation in other populations is warranted to confirm its routine use.

Management of Acute Aluminum Phosphide Poisoning: Has Anything Changed?

Due to its easy availability, rapid and severe toxicity, and no specific antidote, aluminum phosphide has emerged as a lethal toxin, commonly used for suicidal intent in agricultural communities. Despite various advances in medicine, this compound's toxicity is poorly understood, and it still has a very high case fatality rate with no definitive treatment options available. This review aims to understand the mechanism of toxicity, clinical toxidrome of acute aluminum phosphide poisoning, and the available therapeutic options, including recent advances. A literature review was performed searching PubMed, EMBASE Ovid, and Cochrane Library, using the following search items: ("aluminum phosphide poisoning" OR "aluminum phosphide poisoning toxicity" OR "aluminum phosphide ingestion") AND ("management" OR "therapy" OR "treatment"). Selected articles were discussed amongst all the authors to shape this review. High case fatality rate and lack of any specific antidote are persisting challenges. Therapeutic measures need to be implemented from all fronts - reducing easy access to the poison, developing less toxic alternatives for use as a pesticide, and more studies directed at developing an effective reversal agent for phosphine. The advent of promising agents like glucose-insulin-potassium infusion and lipid emulsion is a new ray of hope in the complete recovery in this fatal poisoning. The need of the hour is to find an agent that rapidly and effectively reverses aluminum phosphide's toxic effects. Large multicenter controlled trials are required to establish the role of glucose-insulin-potassium and lipid emulsion.

Changes of QT Dispersion in Patients Suffering from Aluminium Phosphide Poisoning (Rice Pill)

BACKGROUND:

Aluminium phosphide (ALP) or rice pill is a substance used in developing countries due to its low cost as pesticides. The availability of this substance has been lead to an increased rate of the use of this toxic inorganic compound for suicide. Complications are considered to be dose-related toxicity and hospitalisation time, varying from hemodynamic disorder, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, shock, cardiotoxicity, pulmonary and renal failures. The consumption of this substance is one of the major causes of mortality due to heart arrhythmia. QT dispersion represents a regional difference in ventricular repolarisation and electrical instability of the heart.

AIM:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ALP poisoning on QT dispersion.

METHODS:

In this study, 70 patients with ALP poisoning were enrolled, and 10 patients were excluded due to the exclusion criteria. QT dispersion rate was calculated in 60 patients using the standard electrocardiography at the time of referral. The above data were compared with the control group, which included 40 subjects with normal coronary angiography, and without cardiovascular risk factors.

RESULTS:

The findings presented herein indicated a significant correlation between QT dispersion and control group (P < 0.0.5). There was a significant relationship between the severity of acidosis and the patient’s tablets –taking a number (P < 0.05). However, there was no relationship between QT dispersion with the severity of acidosis and mortality in patients.

CONCLUSION:

Because there is no CAD risk factor in the population, it can be concluded that increase in QT dispersion in these individuals can be due to ALP poisoning; nevertheless, this is not considered to be a factor in increasing the morbidity of these patients.