Phosgene Toxicity Clinical Manifestations and Treatment: A Systematic Review
Exposure to phosgene, a colourless poisonous gas, can lead to various health issues including eye irritation, a dryand burning throat, vomiting, coughing, the production of foamy sputum, difficulty in breathing, and chest pain. Thissystematic review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the cl...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Royan Institute (ACECR), Tehran
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Cell Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.celljournal.org/article_710498_2f66225ed9e97d656566ded498f6c780.pdf |
| Summary: | Exposure to phosgene, a colourless poisonous gas, can lead to various health issues including eye irritation, a dryand burning throat, vomiting, coughing, the production of foamy sputum, difficulty in breathing, and chest pain. Thissystematic review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the clinical manifestations and treatment of phosgenetoxicity by systematically analyzing available literature. The search was carried out on various scientific online databasesto include related studies based on inclusion and exclusion criteria with the use of PRISMA guidelines. The quality ofthe studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Thirteen articles were included in thisstudy after the screening process. Inhalation was found to be the primary health problem of phosgene exposure withrespiratory symptoms such as coughing and dyspnea. Chest pain and pulmonary oedema were also observed in somecases. Furthermore, pulmonary crackle was the most common reported physical examination. Beyond respiratory tracthealth issues, other organs involvements such as cardiac, skin, eye, and renal were also reported in some studies. Thesymptoms can occur within minutes to hours after exposure, and the severity of symptoms depends on the amount ofinhaled phosgene. The findings showed that bronchodilators can alleviate symptoms of bronchoconstriction causedby phosgene. Oxygen therapy is essential for restoring oxygen levels and improving respiratory function in casesof hypoxemia. In severe cases, endotracheal intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation are used for artificialrespiration, along with the removal of tracheal secretions and pulmonary oedema fluid through suctioning as crucialcomponents of supportive therapy. |
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| ISSN: | 2228-5806 2228-5814 |