Pushing the Envelope: A Unique Case of Successful Treatment of Diquat Poisoning with Multiorgan Dysfunction

Abstract

Consumption of chemicals and toxins is one of the most common means of committing suicide. Ingestion of pesticides for  commission of suicide is a common subtype of this. Pesticide poisoning cases continue to be the one of the most important  therapeutic problems around the world. We report a case of suicidal diquat (1,1'-ethylene-2,2'- bipyridyldiylium) poisoning that  presented itself with complications and multi-organ failure. The patient was riddled with a myriad of problems such as vomiting,  diarrhoea, painful burning of the mouth, tongue oedema, somnolence, mydriasis, reduced light re-flexes, jaundice and hematuria.  Timely hemoperfusion, intravenous N acetyl cysteine and transfusion of blood products to the patient prevented catastrophic  haemorrhage and saved his life. The patient was successfully treated and fully recovered. In this paper the medical line of  management was highlighted which was responsible for the recovery.