THE EFFECTS OF ETHANOL ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE ACUTE ORGANOPHOSPHATE POISONING
Abstract:
The co-ingestion with ethanol in the case of patients intoxicated with organophosphoric
substances (OPS) involves difficulties in the treatment management, due to the exacerbation of
suppressive effects of OPS on the respiratory function. Chronic alcoholism adds other causes:
tachycardia and delirium complicate the administration of atropine; ethanol-induced myopathy
increases the risk of cardiac complications after the administration of atropine. Material and method:
we analyzed retrospectively the patients intoxicated with organophosphoric insecticides admitted in the
Internal Medicine Clinic – Toxicology between 2003– 2009. Results: 137 patients with organophosphate
poisoning were admitted, 65 were tested by alcohol testing, evidencing values of 1-370 mg/dl. A very
weak direct correlation was registered between the alcohol concentration in the blood and the level of
cholinesterase, but higher values of alcohol level were associated with lower levels of cholinesterase.
Out of 7deceased patients, 6 showed ethanol co-ingestion.
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