DOES PRALIDOXIME AFFECT OUTCOME OF MANAGEMENT IN ACUTE ORGANOPHOSPHORUS POISONING

Acute organophosphorus (OP) poisoning is usually treated with atropine plus cholinesterase reactivators such as oximes, but controlled trials to assess the efficacy of oximes in OP poisoning have not been done. A period when the acetyl cholinesterase reactivator pralidoxime chloride was not available in Sri Lanka gave us the opportunity to compare atropine alone for treatment of moderate to severe OP poisoning (21 patients) with atropine plus pralidoxime (24 patients). Outcome, as assessed clinically, was similar in the two groups. These results cast doubt on the necessity of cholinesterase reactivators for treatment of acute OP poisoning.