Loading...
Atropine and oximes are mainstays of treatment for organophosphate poisoning. Researchers in India, where intentional overdose of organophosphates is common, compared continuous versus periodic bolus pralidoxime infusions in 200 patients aged 12 years or older who presented with moderately severe poisoning within 24 hours of ingestion and who did not have chronic disease.
Patients were randomized to receive 1 gram of pralidoxime over 1 hour either every hour (continuous infusion) or every 4 hours (periodic bolus group) for 48 hours. All patients received a loading dose of 2 grams over 30 minutes, atropine as needed to maintain a pulse between 80 and 100 beats per minute, decontamination, gastric lavage, and activated charcoal.
The continuous-…