CBRNE - Vesicants, Organic Arsenicals - L, ED, MD, PD, HL Follow-up
- Author: Geoffrey M Fitzgerald, MD; Chief Editor: Robert G Darling, MD, FACEP more...
Further Inpatient Care
- Victims of severe toxicity from an organic arsenical may require prolonged care for dermatologic, ophthalmic, and pulmonary sequelae.
Further Outpatient Care
- Patients with only minor skin and eye lesions can be discharged with outpatient follow-up care.
Complications
- Permanent discoloration can occur at blister sites, especially with phenyldichloroarsine (PD).
- Patients with mild conjunctival irritation can be expected to fully recover in 1-2 weeks. Patients with moderate conjunctival irritation with mild corneal damage can expect recovery in 4-6 weeks, but severe corneal damage may be irreversible, especially in phenyldichloroarsine (PD) exposure.
- Victims who suffered mild-to-moderate pulmonary exposure can expect full recovery in 1-4 weeks. Severe vapor exposure can lead to permanent damage to the respiratory mucosa. This can lead to an increased risk of future infection and/or neoplasia. Secondary bacterial pneumonia is most common 3-6 days postexposure.
- Victims with severe exposure to an organic arsenical can experience long-term complications in a number of organ systems, including neurologic, endocrine, and thermoregulatory disorders. The exact mechanism of these effects is unknown.
Prognosis
- Prognosis is good in all but the most severe cases.
Patient Education
- For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Bioterrorism and Warfare Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education articles Chemical Warfare and Personal Protective Equipment.
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