A Long-Lasting “Emergency”: Arsenic Poisoning in the Developing World

Ozgur Karcioglu, Salim Satar, Ebru Yilmaz and Selman Yeniocak

Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Turkey
Department of Emergency Medicine, Adana City Training Hospital, Turkey
Department of Emergency Medicine, Nizip Community Hospital, Turkey

^*Correspondance to: Ozgur Karcioglu 

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Abstract:

Arsenic is among the heavy metals metallic elements most commonly associated with disease states in primary care medicine. Arsenic trioxide, sodium arsenite, and arsenic trichloride are among the forms most easily found in the environment. There is a strong link between exposure to inorganic Arsenic (iAs) in drinking water and the prevalence of cancer and the risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes. The acute lethal dose of iAs has been estimated to be about 0.6 mg/kg/ day. A patient with as intoxication can present with metabolic, cardiorespiratory, hematological, gastrointestinal, and neurological abnormalities. Skin manifestations are evaluated to be among initial and reliable diagnostic criteria for acute and chronic exposure to As compounds. Massive fluid loss can result in dehydration, volume depletion and cardiorespiratory collapse or shock states in extreme cases. The important biomarkers of As are sought in the urine, nail, and hair. Treatment with a chelating agent [e.g., succimer (2,3- dimercaptosuccinic acid) and dimercaprol] is vital in patients with a suspicion of severe intoxication.

Keywords:

Heavy metals; Arsenic; Poisoning; Toxicity; Diagnosis; Treatment; Chelators

Cite the Article:

Karcioglu O, Satar S, Yilmaz E, Yeniocak S. A Long-Lasting “Emergency”: Arsenic Poisoning in the Developing World. World J Surg Surgical Res. 2019; 2: 1122.