PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN ALUMINIUM PHOSPHIDE POISONING.

A prospective study was done on 12 consecutive cases of aluminium phosphide poisoning admitted to a zonal hospital in Punjab. Patients were in 18-36 years age group and mortality was more in females. The dose of aluminium phosphide was more in non-survivors and fresh tablets were more likely to cause fatality. Early vomitting and prompt initiation of treatment resulted in better outcome. Survivors responded to treatment early, but duration of shock had no predictive value. Shock and cardiac arrhythmias were present in all cases and extracardiac complications occurred more commonly in fatal group. With vigorous treatment of shock and other complications 33 per cent of the cases could be saved.