Management of rodenticide poisoning: Tamil Nadu chapter of Indian Society of gastroenterology guidelines

Abstract

Rodenticide ingestion, a common mode of suicide in Tamil Nadu and other states in southern and western parts of India, can lead to hepatotoxicity and death. Most rodenticide agents contain phosphorus, a potent toxin. The only definitive management in a patient who develops rodenticide induced acute liver failure is urgent liver transplantation. A study conducted across Tamil Nadu in 2019 documented that the majority (>99%) of rodenticide hepatotoxicity patients cannot access urgent liver transplantation. The current guidelines proposed by the Tamil Nadu chapter of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology are focused on improving survival in these patients, especially by nontransplant treatments. The indications for the use of plasma exchange, an emerging treatment which improves survival in acute liver failure, are described. In resource-constrained settings, it is preferable to avoid the use of sedative drugs, in rodenticide hepatotoxicity patients, who do not have encephalopathy. These management guidelines are specifically meant for use by doctors in primary health centers and in secondary hospitals who care for patients with rodenticide ingestion and hepatotoxicity. We hope these guidelines may also help inform health care policy in Tamil Nadu state to improve survival in patients with rodenticide hepatotoxicity by cost-effective interventions.