A 16-year-old girl was admitted to the ICU with a history of consuming poison (20 ml of deltamethrin containing 12.5mg/ml, total dose = 250mg) following a domestic dispute. She presented with status epilepticus. As per the details gathered from the relatives, the patient was having continuous generalized tonic clonic seizures (GTCs) (status) since one hour prior to admission and was even convulsing during her transfer to the hospital. On arrival the patient was immediately intubated and ventilated and resuscitation started.\nThe convulsions were treated with injection Lorazepam, but there was no response. Further, doses of IV Midazolam/ Valproate/Phenobarbitone were given, but the convulsions continued. A bolus does of Thiopentone was then given, after which she stopped convulsing. She was started on a thiopentone infusion. Despite the thiopentone infusion, she had four episodes of GTCs in the next six hours, which were managed with further boluses of thiopentone (200mg) and increase in rate of the infusion. Inotropes were started and IV fluids were continued which were guided by CVP and arterial BP monitoring. Her rhythm on ECG was normal and lungs were clinically dry. CNS examination was not possible because she was sedated with thiopentone. Her pupils were dilated (6mm) and fixed.\nAn EEG showed 80% suppression of the brain. CT scan showed diffuse cerebral edema with effacement of sulci and chinking of lateral ventricles.\nLab reports showed normal S. cholinesterase levels (4340 IU/L), normal serum electrolytes and urine negative for myoglobin.\nAfter 48 hours of being on thiopentone infusion (24 hours without convulsions), she was weaned off thiopentone infusion. The patient was triggering the ventilator well by the next day (day 4). Supports were hence taken off gradually. The patient's pupils became reactive by day 5.\nIn the following days, the patient was tracheostomized (in view of anticipated prolonged mechanical ventilation) and T-piece trials were initiated soon. By day 11, she was opening eyes to call and was moving all four limbs, but with reduced power. Tracheostomy was decannulated on day 14 [].\nNerve conduction studies were done in view of her poor muscle strength which showed “severe, generalized, predominantly motor axonal polyneuropathy”.\nThe patient was shifted to the ward after 18 days of ICU stay, on supportive care. Wheelchair ambulation was started on day 21 and the patient was discharged on day 26.
A 35-year-old male was admitted to our emergency department with giddiness as the major complaint following ingestion of an unknown quantity of an unknown poison. Patient was conscious, oriented with stable cardio-respiratory parameters at the time of arrival. After sometime, despite being well oxygenated via face mask, patient started having generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Initial attention to airway, breathing and circulation (ABC) was given, followed by a bolus dose of diazepam. Seizures subsided for a brief period only to recur repeatedly.\nOn repeated enquiry, the patient's relative brought empty bottles of “ALL OUT,” a commercial composition of pyrethroid used as insecticides providing a circumstantial evidence of the nature of the poisoning.\nPatient was given a bolus dose of thiopentone sodium, and soon his trachea was intubated. This was followed by a loading dose of the anti-convulsant phenytoin to control seizures.\nPatient was shifted to the intensive care unit for further management. On examination, he was deeply comatose. There was profuse sweating. His pulse rate was 136 per minute, and the blood pressure was 90/60mmHg. His pupils were dilated bilaterally and sluggishly reacting to light. Examination of the other systems was unremarkable. Hemogram, liver and kidney function tests, X-ray chest, ECG, and arterial blood gases were normal. Patient was put on a ventilator on the SIMV mode.\nAgain the patient started showing tonic–clonic seizures, which were continuous and unresponsive to anti-convulsant therapy. Thereafter, thiopentone sodium and midazolam infusions were administered and titrated clinically as no bedside EEG monitoring was available. Gradually, thiopentone sodium and midazolam infusions were tapered off, and patient was weaned off the ventilator to be extubated after 72 hours. The patient was discharged from the hospital on the 7th day after a psychiatry consultation.