Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2025

Analysis of Organochlorine Pesticides in a Soil Sample by a Modified QuEChERS Approach Using Ammonium Formate
Published on: January 20, 2023
Quantification of Organophosphorus Insecticide Removed by Gastric Lavage in Acutely Poisoned Patients: An
Asisha Janeela Mathansingh1, Arun Jose2, Jude Joseph Fleming2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Introduction:
The effectiveness of gastric lavage in organophosphorus (OP) poisoning has not been established. We assessed the ability of gastric lavage to remove OP insecticides as a preliminary stage in assessing effectiveness.
Patients And Methods:
Organophosphorus poisoning patients presenting within 6 hours were included, irrespective of prior gastric lavage. A nasogastric tube was placed and gastric contents aspirated, followed by at least three cycles of gastric lavage with 200 mL of water. Samples from the initial aspirate and the first three lavage cycles were sent for identification and quantification of the OP compounds. Patients were monitored for complications of gastric lavage.
Results:
Around 42 patients underwent gastric lavage. Eight (19.0%) patients were excluded from the study because of a lack of analytical standards for ingested compounds. Insecticides were detectable in the lavage samples of 24 of 34 (70.6%) patients. Lipophilic OP compounds were detected in 23 of 24 patients, while no hydrophilic OP compounds could be detected in six patients with reported ingestion of hydrophilic compounds. For chlorpyrifos poisoning (n = 10), only 0.65 mg (SD 1.2) of the estimated ingested amount (n = 5) of 8,600 mg (SD 3,200) was recovered by gastric lavage. The mean proportion of the compound removed by initial gastric aspirate was 79.4% and subsequent three cycles removed 11.5, 6.6, and 2.7%.
Conclusion:
Lipophilic OP insecticides could be quantified in the stomach contents of OP poisoning patients with the first aspiration or lavage being most effective. The amount removed was very low; hence, routine use of gastric lavage for OP poisoning patients arriving within 6 hours is unlikely to be beneficial.
How To Cite This Article:
Mathansingh AJ, Jose A, Fleming JJ, Abhilash KPP, Chandiraseharan VK, Lenin A, et al. Quantification of Organophosphorus Insecticide Removed by Gastric Lavage in Acutely Poisoned Patients: An Observational Study. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(6):397-402.
More Related Videos
11:53Oral Administration of Rotenone using a Gavage and Image Analysis of Alpha-synuclein Inclusions in the Enteric Nervous System
Published on: October 26, 2010
08:59An Intestine/Liver Microphysiological System for Drug Pharmacokinetic and Toxicological Assessment
Published on: December 3, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison
Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is...
Enhanced Elimination of Poison
Antidotes serve a crucial role in counteracting the effects of poison by inhibiting enzymes responsible for producing harmful drug metabolites. In some cases, these toxic metabolites can be neutralized by endogenous cosubstrates, which are maintained at specific concentrations to prevent interaction with cellular macromolecules and subsequent cell death.
Renal excretion is the...
Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics
Reversible agents containing quaternary amines, such as neostigmine and edrophonium, are not easily absorbed orally because they...
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics
Depolarizing Blockers: Pharmocokinetics