Can Intravenous Lipid Emulsion Reduce Mortality Rate in Cases of Acute Aluminium Phosphide Poisoning? A Systematic Review

Background: Acute pesticide poisoning has remained a significant public health concern for decades. Supportive care has been the mainstay of treatment. Intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) therapy offers a potential new strategy.
Objectives: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the current research on the efficacy of ILE in treating aluminum phosphide (AlP) poisoning.
Methods: A comprehensive electronic search was conducted across various databases including PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Campbell Systematic Reviews, Scopus, Web of Science, Springer Nature, Elsevier, Google Scholar, and regional databases encompassing Mansoura, Zagazig, Ain Shams universities, and Indian publications. Studies published in English language were considered for inclusion (from 2015 to 2023). Inclusion criteria focused on human studies evaluating the use of ILE for AlP intoxication.
Results: Five studies met the inclusion criteria, three studies were randomized controlled trials, one was observational cross sectional study, and one was case report encompassing a total of 224 patients. Of these, 102 patients received ILE, with all studies utilizing 20% ILE. Three studies administered ILE as a continuous intravenous infusion at a rate of 10 mL/h. Two other studies employed a bolus dose regimen, ranging from 1-3 mL/kg delivered over one minute, followed by continuous infusion. The overall mortality rate was 68.6% in the ILE group compared to 76.2% in the control group and the need for mechanical ventilation was lower in the ILE group with clinical improvement in the ILE group.
Conclusion: Intravenous lipid emulsion represents a novel therapeutic approach in toxicology with the potential to improve patient outcomes. This review suggests ILE may reduce mortality associated with AlP poisoning. Additionally, ILE use might be associated with decreased, need for mechanical ventilation, hospital stay and discharge time among survivors.