PGI’s breakthrough in celphos poisoning treatment

Doctors at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) have achieved a major clinical breakthrough in the treatment of poisoning by aluminium phosphide poisoning, commonly known as celphos, one of the most lethal toxic exposures reported in India.

A study conducted by the Department of Internal Medicine is the first clinical research to demonstrate the life-saving potential of intravenous lipid emulsion therapy in patients suffering from this highly fatal poisoning. The findings have been published in the internationally reputed European Review of Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, bringing global recognition to research addressing a critical public-health issue in North India.

The research was carried out under the guidance of Prof Sanjay Jain, Dean (Academics) and Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, PGIMER, and was funded by the Medical Education and Research Cell of the institute.

Dr Mandip Singh Bhatia, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, led the randomised clinical study with Dr Saurabh Chandrabhan Sharda as co-investigator.

The results showed a significant reduction in mortality among patients who received intravenous lipid emulsion in addition to standard treatment. These patients also demonstrated faster correction of metabolic acidosis, improved haemodynamic stability and better overall outcomes, even in cases complicated by shock and cardiac involvement.

A key advantage of the therapy is its low cost and wide availability, making it suitable for use in district and rural hospitals. The findings are particularly significant for agricultural states such as Punjab and Haryana, where celphos poisoning remains a major public-health concern.