Murat Yücel

Electrocardiographic Findings of Acute Organophosphate Poisoning

In this study, we evaluated 85 patients who presented to our Emergency Department with organophosphate (OP) poisoning and discuss their associated electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities. Over a period of 3 years, 85 patients with OP poisoning were included in this retrospective study. ECG analysis included the rate, rhythm, ST-T abnormalities, conduction defects, and measurement of PR and QT intervals. The mean age was 32.2 +/- 14.9 years. Sixty percent of the patients were female. The mean corrected QT interval (QTc interval) was 0.435 +/- 0.052 s. Prolongation of the QTc interval (55.5%) was the most common ECG abnormality, followed by sinus tachycardia (31.8%). Elevation of the ST segment and low amplitude T waves were seen in 15 cases (17.6%). Patients with OP poisoning might reveal ECG abnormalities such as QTc interval prolongation or non-specific ST-T changes. QTc interval prolongation cannot be used as a unique predictive factor in determining short-term prognosis in OP poisoning. We found no clear relation between OP poisoning-related malignant ventricular dysrhythmia and QTc interval.

Myocardial contusion and multiple pseudocysts at lung without rib fracture.

For reprint information contact: Hidir Esme, MD Tel: 90 533 647 1729 Fax: 90 272 217 2029 Email: hesme@aku.edu.tr Department of Thoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Pembe Hastane, Afyon 03200, Turkey. An 8-year-old boy was admitted to the emergency department because of run over on his chest by a trailer of tractor. Chest X-Ray revealed Figure 1. Opacities and cavitary lesions in right lower lung zone without rib fracture.