Aluminum phosphide poisoning: Possible role of supportive measures in the absence of specific antidote.
Aluminum phosphide (ALP) poisoning is one of the major causes of suicidal deaths. Toxicity by ALP is caused by the liberation of phosphine gas, which rapidly causes cell hypoxia due to inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation, leading to circulatory failure. Treatment of ALP toxicity is mainly supportive as there is no specific antidote. We recently managed 7 cases of ALP poisoning with severe hemodynamic effects. Patients were treated with supportive measures including gastric lavage with diluted potassium permanganate, coconut oil and sodium-bicarbonate first person account should be avoided in a scientific paper. Intravenous magnesium sulfate, proper hemodynamic monitoring and vasopressors. Four out of 7 survived thus suggesting a role of such supportive measures in the absence of specific antidote for ALP poisoning.
Department of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonology, Metro Heart Institute with Multispeciality, Sector 16A, Faridabad, Haryana, India.
Vijay Kumar
VK
Agrawal
Department of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonology, Metro Heart Institute with Multispeciality, Sector 16A, Faridabad, Haryana, India.
Abhishek
A
Bansal
Department of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonology, Metro Heart Institute with Multispeciality, Sector 16A, Faridabad, Haryana, India.
Ranjeet Kumar
RK
Singh
Department of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonology, Metro Heart Institute with Multispeciality, Sector 16A, Faridabad, Haryana, India.
Bhanwar Lal
BL
Kumawat
Department of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonology, Metro Heart Institute with Multispeciality, Sector 16A, Faridabad, Haryana, India.
Parul
P
Mahajan
Aluminum phosphide; coconut oil; magnesium sulfate; phosphine gas; potassium permanganate