title: Nerve gas terrorism: a grim challenge to anesthesiologists.
abstract: The 1995 Tokyo subway strike proved nerve gas to be a fearsome terrorist weapon of mass destruction. Because the clear liquid is easily hidden until released, rescuers must aid nonbreathing casualties near instantly. Anesthesiologists are uniquely qualified to train these rescue squads and to manage nerve gas victims in the hospital.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [Formerly: US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD); Joint Services NBC Contingency Hospital Unit].
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takala
authors.forename: Rudolph H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: de Jong
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000506:poisoning; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000506:poisoning; D004189:Disaster Planning; D005740:Gases; D006801:Humans; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; D018635:Rescue Work; D023481:Terrorism; D014218:Triage
chemical_list: D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D005740:Gases; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; C009680:VX-agent