Organofosfat zehirlenmelerinin sosyodemografik özellikleri ve pralidoksim verilme zamani ile mortalite arasindaki ilişki Sociodemographic features of organophosphate poisonings and the relationship between time of pralidoxime administration and mortality

Objective: Organophosphates are commonly used in agriculture and mostly lead to intoxication. In this study, we examined the sociodemographic features, clinical find ings, and the relationship between time to treatment with pralidoxime and mortality in patients with organophosphate poisoning treated in our clinic. Methods: We retrospectively examined hospital records of 179 patients who were managed for organophosphate poisoning in our clinic, between January 2001 and November 2009. Sociodemographic data, clinical findings, laboratory results, complications during follow-up, and outcomes were recorded. The patients were grouped as died and survived, and comparison of sociodemographic and clinical features, laboratory results, and treatment outcomes were performed. Results: Among 179 patients, 133 (74.3%) were female, 46 (25.6%) were male and mean age was 27.1+11.7 years. Fifteen (8.3%) patients died. Illiteracy rate among those who died was 66.6%, while it was 30.4% in those who survived. Among those who died, 13 (86.6%) had nicotinic and 14 (93.3%) had CNS signs. Assessment of cases by the time to PAM administration revealed mortality rates of 4.47% (n=6), 19.4 % (n=7), and 22.2% (n=2) for the first 3 hours (n= 134), 3-6 hours (n=36), and after 6 hours (n=9), respectively. Conclusion: A great majority of patients presenting with organophosphate poisoning were of low educational status, which was linked with mortality, indicates the importance of education. In addition, mortality rate was lower in patients who were administered PAM at an earlier period in the treatment process, suggesting the role of early PAM administration in reducing mortality.