Diagnosis in an acute organophosphate poisoning: report of three interesting cases and review of the literature

Organophosphates may cause serious life-threatening conditions, such as an initial acute cholinergic crisis and intermediate syndrome. Each of these conditions has a potential for respiratory failure requiring ventilatory support. For this reason, it is very important to recognize them early, especially to institute appropriate management. The diagnosis of organophosphate poisoning is based essentially on a clinical assessment, followed by laboratory examinations. Sometimes the diagnosis may be difficult, as in case 1, identified initially as brainstem stroke. However, if neurological syndromes associated with organophosphate poisoning are well known, they can easily be distinguished from other conditions that resemble them. Two cases displayed the symptoms and signs of intermediate syndrome; however, one case (no. 2) did not have severe poisoning on admission but needed artificial ventilation. Each case recovered completely from organophosphate poisoning as a result of early diagnosis and appropriate therapy. Therefore, we would like to describe the clinical and laboratory features of these syndromes, observed in three interesting cases, and to emphasize the importance of early and accurate diagnosis for the appropriate management of acute organophosphate poisoning. (C) 2004 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.