Hyperbaric oxygenation therapy and gastric lavage as an alternative treatment for aluminum phosphide toxicity in rats

Background and Objective: Phosphide exposure is one of the most lethal types of poisoning because there is no specific antidote; therefore, the objectives of this study were to analyze the levels of oxidative and mitochondrial damage caused by poisoning and to determine whether gastric lavage with either olive oil or bicarbonate and hyperbaric oxidation therapy improves the recovery from this type of poisoning. Methodology: Female Wistar rats (300±30 g) were assigned to 1 of 5 groups. In groups with poisoned rats, 27 mg of aluminum phosphide was administered, after which some of the rats received treatment via gastric lavage (olive oil, 10 mg kg^-1 or sodium bicarbonate, 1 mEq kg^-1) and/or hyperbaric oxygenation therapy. The enzymatic activities of citrate synthase and catalase were measured in cardiac, liver and lung tissue and lactate levels were measured in plasma by spectrophotometry. Results: After phosphide administration, the results showed a reduction in the enzymatic activities of catalase, citrate synthase and lactate; however, after combining the gastric lavage of bicarbonate with hyperbaric oxygenation, the catalase and citrate synthase activities increased and the lactate activity returned to normal levels. Conclusion: It is concluded that combining hyperbaric oxygenation with gastric lavage exerted a protective effect by reducing the cellular damage and normalizing the enzymatic activities of catalase and lactate.