Hemoperfusion in the management of acute poisoning

Abstract

The role of extracorporeal therapies for poisoning is expanding in the present days with technological advances and increased awareness among physicians attending critically ill patients both intensivists and nephrologists. In this regard we present our experience on hemoperfusion in poisonings over a period of 5 years. A total of 6 patients were treated with hemoperfusion during this period with majority of them were due to antiepileptic drugs (phenytoin, phenobarbitone, carbamazepine) followed by paraquat (a weedicide).The age range is from 19-59 years with a mean age of 31.3 years and male: female ratio of 1:1. Coming to the clinical presentation, 3 of them presented with unconsciousness, one with altered sensorium and two of them with vomiting associated with oliguria and breathlessness. Five of the six (83.3%) required ventilatory support during the hospital stay. The total number of hemoperfusion sessions required was 10, with an average of 1.6 sessions per patient. The average number of hemodialysis sessions required was 2.3 sessions per patient. Only one patient developed procedure related complication of thrombocytopenia related oral bleeding which subsided with supportive therapy and no further hemoperfusion. Four out of six patients (66.6 %) recovered while 33.4 % expired and both the patients who expired consumed paraquat poisoning. In conclusion hemoperfusion has a significant role in the management of certain poisonings which would reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with these poisonings.

Keywords

• extracorporeal therapies
• hemoperfusion
• management of acute poisonings