Carbamate poisoning: treatment recommendations in the setting of a mass casualties event

Rosman, Y; Makarovsky, I; Bentur, Y; Shrot, S; Dushnistky, T; Krivoy, A

HERO ID

582413

Reference Type

Journal Article

Subtype

Review

Year

2009

Language

English

PMID

19931761

HERO ID 582413
Material Type Review
In Press No
Year 2009
Title Carbamate poisoning: treatment recommendations in the setting of a mass casualties event
Authors Rosman, Y; Makarovsky, I; Bentur, Y; Shrot, S; Dushnistky, T; Krivoy, A
Journal American Journal of Emergency Medicine
Volume 27
Issue 9
Page Numbers 1117-1124
Abstract The threat of using chemical compounds by terrorists as weapons of mass casualties has been a rising concern in recent years. Carbamates, a group of reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, could be potentially involved in such toxic mass casualty events because they can cause cholinergic crisis that could lead to fatality, similar to that of organophosphate poisoning. The medical management of carbamate poisoning consists of supportive measures and specific antidotal treatment, that is, the anticholinergic compound atropine. The administration of oximes, acetylcholinesterase reactivators, in carbamate poisoning is controversial because of the potential toxicity of oximes in conjunction with carbamate especially in the case of the carbamate--"carbaryl" poisoning. However, recent data suggest that this concern may be unwarranted. In this article, we review the current data regarding the pros and cons of using oximes against carbamates poisoning in a mass casualties event scenario. We also propose a new decision-making algorithm for the medical first responders in a mass casualties event suspected to be caused by a cholinergic substance (organophosphate or carbamate). According to this algorithm, treatment should consist of atropine and oxime regardless of the exact toxic compound involved. We speculate that in a mass casualties event, the benefits of using oximes outweigh the low level of potential risk.
Doi 10.1016/j.ajem.2009.01.035
Pmid 19931761
Wosid WOS:000272403400016
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments Scopus URL: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-70449504467&doi=10.1016%2fj.ajem.2009.01.035&partnerID=40&md5=46f3c898cc0e6877eedb372f02d8c1e6
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword acetylcholinesterase; atropine; benzodiazepine; carbamate pesticide; diazepam; hypertensive factor; infusion fluid; midazolam; obidoxime; organophosphate; oxime derivative; pralidoxime; pralidoxime chloride; pralidoxime mesilate; trimedoxime; abdominal cramp; agitation; algorithm; bradycardia; bronchospasm; bronchus secretion; carbamate poisoning; carbomate poisioning; chemical bond; coma; confusion; cyanosis; diarrhea; drug megadose; dyspnea; fasciculation; health care personnel; human; hypertension; hypoxemia; incontinence; intoxication; lacrimation; lung edema; mass disaster; medical decision making; miosis; muscle twitch; muscle weakness; nonhuman; oxygenation; paralysis; priority journal; respiratory arrest; respiratory failure; review; rhinorrhea; risk assessment; salivation; seizure; sweating; tachycardia; urine incontinence; vomiting; Antidotes; Atropine; Carbamates; Chemical Terrorism; Humans; Insecticides; Mass Casualty Incidents; Muscarinic Antagonists; Oximes; Poisoning
Is Qa No