Mathai and Bhanu identified a number of risk factors associated with mortality in patients with aluminum (aluminium) phosphide poisoning. These can help to identify a patient who may benefit from more aggressive management. The authors are from the Christian Medical College in Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
Patient selection: acute aluminum phosphide poisoning
Parameters:
(1) serum creatinine
(2) arterial blood pH
(3) serum bicarbonate
(4) need for mechanical ventilation
(5) need for vasoactive drugs
(6) APACHE II score
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
serum creatinine |
<= 1 mg/dL |
0 |
|
> 1 mg/dL |
1 |
arterial blood pH |
>= 7.2 |
0 |
|
< 7.2 |
1 |
serum bicarbonate |
>= 15 mmol/L |
0 |
|
< 15 mmol/L |
1 |
mechanical ventilation |
not needed |
0 |
|
needed |
1 |
vasoactive drugs |
not needed |
0 |
|
needed |
1 |
APACHE II score |
< 8 |
0 |
|
>= 8 |
1 |
where:
• The abstract said that a low APACHE II score on admission was associated with mortality but Table 3 and Figure 3 indicate that a high APACHE II score was associated with increased mortality.
total number of risk factors =
= SUM(points for all 6 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum number of risk factors: 0
• maximum number of risk factors: 6
• The higher the number of risk factors the greater the risk of mortality.
Specialty: Toxicology, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
ICD-10: ,