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Background: Organophosphorus poisoning (OPP) is a major global public health problem. Pralidoxime has been used in a complimentary role to atropine for the management of OPP. World Health Organization (WHO) recommends use of pralidoxime but studies regarding its role have been inconclusive, ranging from being ineffective to harmful or beneficial. Materials and Methods: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of pralidoxime. Eddleston's study was the most compelling factor for our study, as he showed worst outcomes using pralidoxime. Our practice of continuous use of pralidoxime was based on the WHO guidelines and the study by Pawar (2006), which showed better outcome with higher doses of pralidoxime. These conflicting results suggested that a re-evaluation of its use in our clinical practice was indicated. Results: There was no difference in mortality rates, hemodynamic parameters and atropine requirements between the AP and A groups. Mean duration of ventilation (3.6 ± 4.6 in AP group vs. 3.6 ± 4.4 in A group) and Intensive Care Unit stay (7.1 ± 5.4 in AP group vs. 6.8 ± 4.7 in A group) was comparable. Serum sodium concentrations showed a correlation with mortality, with lower concentrations associated with better outcomes. Conclusion: The study suggests that add-on WHO-recommended pralidoxime therapy does not provide any benefit over atropine monotherapy. Adding pralidoxime does not seem to be beneficial and at the same time does not result in increased mortality rates. Our practice changed after completion of this study, and it has proven to be of significant benefit to patients who had to bear the expense of treatment.

A 32-year-old male presented with a history of consuming some organophosphorous compound with suicidal intention. He was treated with atropine, pralidoxime, ventilator support. During stay patient had persistent irritability, tachycardiaand hypertension despite sedation and labetalol infusion. He developed headache, visual blurring hemiparesis and focal seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed multifocal hyperintensities mainly in subcortical areas of parietal and occipital regions in T2-weighted images, with increased values of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient, suggesting posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). The possibilities of PRES caused by organophosphorous poisoning either due to hypertension caused by autonomic deregulation or direct neurological toxicity has been discussed.

Introduction: Pesticide poisoning is a major health problem worldwide. In Nepal the most common cause is suicidal and pesticides account for more than fifty percent of cases. The objective of the study was to look in detail regarding the pesticide poisoning cases admitted at BPKIHS; their epidemiological profile, presentation, treatment and their outcome during the hospital stay. Drug therapy included specific antidotal drugs; atropine and pralidoxime (PAM) and some nonspecificdrugs: antimicrobials and sedatives. Methods: It was a retrospective study which included 2621 patients with poisoning of which 1661 cases were related to pesticides. Results: The mean age at presentation was 29 years. The mean duration of hospital stay was 6.7 days. The majority of patients 81.16% showed improvement whereas 6.6% of patients died within 24 hours of admission and 3.54% after 48 hours of admission. Among all the patients 0.5% patients were given ICU care and all others were managed in the different units of medicine ward. The total amount of atropine administered varied considerably from patient to patient, according to the need. Most of the cases were under the influence of alcohol. All the patients had a psychiatry evaluation before discharge. Conclusions: Pesticide poisoning is increasing in incidence and it is one of the preventable public health problems and includes mainly the patients’ age group 20-30 years. Due to easy availability of pesticides it is the most preferred method of suicide, the main reasons being impulsive act and increased indebtedness in the society. Keywords: pesticides; organophosphorous poisoning.