Paper I
2019 February (2010 Scheme) · 40 marks · 120 min

Question

19 yrs old Saravanan was admitted to the emergency ward with the history of consumption of poison after love failure. On admission, he had profuse sweating, excess salivation, laboured breathing & pinpoint pupil. He had thrown convulsion once. His pulse rate was 45-50/mt.  What is your probable diagnosis  What is the line of management  What are the specific antidotes. How they are useful. (1+2+1+2)

Q26 marksEssays

Answer

Probable diagnosis

  • Organophosphorus (anticholinesterase) poisoning — the clinical picture (profuse sweating, excess salivation, laboured breathing/bronchospasm, pinpoint pupils/miosis, bradycardia, convulsions) is the classic muscarinic/CNS toxidrome of OP poisoning (SLUDGE syndrome)

Line of management

  • Maintain airway, breathing, circulation; give oxygen, suction secretions
  • Remove contaminated clothing, wash skin thoroughly to prevent further absorption
  • Gastric lavage if ingested and within a safe time window
  • Continuous cardiac and respiratory monitoring; assisted ventilation if needed
  • Treat convulsions with IV Diazepam

Specific antidotes and their usefulness

  • Atropine sulphate (IV, titrated until atropinisation): Competitively blocks muscarinic receptors, reversing bradycardia, excess secretions, and bronchospasm — does not reverse nicotinic (neuromuscular) effects
  • Pralidoxime (2-PAM) (IV): Reactivates acetylcholinesterase by removing the phosphate group from the enzyme-inhibitor complex, most effective if given early before “ageing” occurs — reverses both muscarinic and nicotinic effects, unlike atropine alone

Other Years Asked


Revise MBBS
Preview