[Effect of rhubarb and Glauber's salt cathartic intervention on acute organophosphorus pesticide poisoning].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of nasal tube feeding of rhubarb solution and umbilical compress of Glauber's salt for purgation in the treatment of patients with severe acute organophosphorus pesticide poisoning (AOPP).

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted. Eighty patients with severe AOPP were divided into two groups according to different treatment, with 40 patients in each group. A thorough gastric lavage was done, followed by cholinesterase complex agent and atropine were given for all the patients. On the base of this treatment, one group of patients were given nasogastric feeding of rhubarb solution (200 ml) and Glauber's salt solution ( 100 g) for umbilical compress (rhubarb plus Glauber group),and another group of patients were fed with 20％ mannitol (200 ml)as a control group (mannitol group).The time of first defecation, number of passing stools, the time of normalization of cholinesterase (ChE) activity, time of atropinization, dosage of atropinization, and total amount of atropine given, incidence of adverse reactions, and hospital stay in two groups were observed, a statistical analysis of the data was conducted.

RESULTS

In rhubarb plus Glauber group, all the conditions were improved better than those of mannitol group [first defecation time (minutes):134.13 ± 31.31 vs.154.35 ± 34.78,the number of stools (times/d):2.60 ± 0.81 vs.2.14 ± 0.63,time of ChE activity returned to normal (days):9.65 ± 1.42 vs.10.66 ± 1.74,atropinization time ( hours ):3.00 ± 0.73 vs.3.56 ± 1.02,dosage of atropinization (mg):51.43 ± 7.03 vs. 57.65 ± 7.74,the total amount of atropine given (mg):229.78 ± 28.96 vs. 248.41 ± 31.45, the incidence of adverse reactions: abdominal pain 0 vs. 17.5％,abdominal distention 0 vs. 20.0％,hospital stay (days):10.43 ± 1.68 vs.11.59 ± 2.121,and all the differences were statistically significant (all P＜0.01).

CONCLUSION

Combination usage with aqueous rhubarb solution and Glauber's salt in AOPP patients could yield quick clearance of toxin, reduced adverse effects, and lower length of hospital stay.