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Survival Following Severe Aluminium Phosphide Poisoning
Author(s) -
Pajoumand Abdolkarim,
Jalali Nasser,
Abdollah Mohammad,
Shadnia Shahin
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of pharmacy practice and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 2055-2335
pISSN - 1445-937X
DOI - 10.1002/jppr2002324297
Subject(s) - medicine , phosphine , toxicity , gastric lavage , metabolic acidosis , intensive care , surgery , anesthesia , intensive care medicine , biochemistry , chemistry , catalysis
Aim: To describe the treatment and successful outcome of a patient who had taken an amount of aluminium phosphide that would normally be lethal. Case report: A 47‐year‐old woman was admitted two hours after ingesting 16.8 g of aluminium phosphide with suicidal intent. Treatment consisted of: gastric lavage with potassium permanganate solution; intravenous bicarbonate, magnesium and calcium; and oral bicarbonate and coconut oil. Supportive therapy in intensive care was also provided. Her clinical course included hypotension, metabolic acidosis and liver dysfunction. Discussion: Aluminium phosphide produces phosphine gas and is used to control rodents in grain storage facilities. This patient had apparently ingested what would normally be a lethal amount of aluminium phosphide and had signs and symptoms of severe toxicity. She survived following rapid treatment and supportive care. Recommended measures to limit absorption and phosphine toxicity may have contributed to survival.