Patients Survival After Paraquat Poisoning: A Report of Three Cases

Abstract

Background: Paraquat poisoning is a common and often fatal herbicide poisoning in society. This study presents a clinical case series of patients who survived after paraquat poisoning. Cases Presentation: This study evaluated patients hospitalized between March 2016 and March 2021 with paraquat (PQ) poisoning who survived. Out of 115 patients with PQ poisoning, three cases of severe toxicity with an average age of 24.33 years are presented here. The urinary sodium dithionate test result was positive in all three surviving patients. All patients arrived at the poisoning emergency center within an hour of ingestion and received gastric lavage and charcoal therapy. They were also treated with corticosteroids, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), vitamins C and E, Curcumin, and Livergel. Hemodialysis was performed for the patients, with one undergoing hemodialysis and hemoperfusion after ingesting 250 mL of PQ 20. After a six-month follow-up, all surviving patients were in good health. Conclusion: Various factors, such as early admission after exposure, prompt gastrointestinal (GI) decontamination, corticosteroids with Curcumin and Livergel, antioxidants, hemodialysis, and hemoperfusion in one case may have contributed to the survival of patients with PQ poisoning in this study. However, individual vulnerability should also be considered a crucial factor requiring further investigation.