Cleistanthus collinus poisoning: an effective management with multidose activated charcoal

Background: In south India, Cleistanthus collinus is toxic plant poison. That is used for suicidal purpose. Objective of this study is to compare the outcome of Cleistanthus collinus poisoning treated with and without multi dose activated charcoal. Methodology: Out of 54 patients, who consumed Cleistanthus collinus, 30 patients were managed with multidose activated charcoal and the other 24 were not. Various complications in both the groups were analyzed and their mortality was recorded. Results: Complications like hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, ARDS, neuromuscular weakness, cardiac arrest, death etc. were reduced. Though the patients who received MDAC also had electrolyte imbalance, only 9 (30%) had hypokalemia, in contrast to 21(87.5%) non MDAC patients who had hypokalemia. Astonishingly death rate was significantly reduced among patients who received MDAC, whereas 8 patients died in non MDAC group Conclusion: MDAC has been found effectively reducing hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, ARDS, neuromuscular weakness, arrhythmias and most importantly mortality in poisoned patients.