title: Nerve agents: implications for anesthesia providers.
abstract: Anesthesia providers may be called to treat injuries from chemical weapons or spills, for which prompt treatment is vital. It is therefore important to understand the mechanism of action of nerve agents and the resultant pathophysiology and to be able to quickly recognize the signs and symptoms of nerve agent exposure. This review article addresses the different types of nerve agents that are currently being manufactured as well as the symptomatic and definitive treatment of the patient who presents with acute nerve agent toxicity. This article also reviews the physiology of the neuromuscular junction and the autonomic nervous system receptors that nerve agent toxicity affects.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia Program, PA, USA. gasgal127@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Paula Kay
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Hrobak
mesh_terms: D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001285:Atropine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051337:Chemical Terrorism / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000506:poisoning; D002801:Cholinesterase Reactivators / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009719:Nurse Anesthetists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D062025:Organophosphate Poisoning; D010755:Organophosphates; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds / Q000506:poisoning; D011220:Pralidoxime Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012524:Sarin / Q000506:poisoning; D012999:Soman / Q000506:poisoning; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D001285:Atropine; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D002801:Cholinesterase Reactivators; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D010755:Organophosphates; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; D011220:Pralidoxime Compounds; D012524:Sarin; D012999:Soman; C009680:VX-agent; C028797:pralidoxime; C009374:tabun