Unusual Organophosphate Poisoning: Transplacental Route

Accidental or intentional intoxication by organophosphates, which are toxic substances that inhibit acetylcholinesterase, constitutes a serious public health problem worldwide, with a greater impact in developing countries. Chronic intoxication during pregnancy with alterations in neurodevelopment and fetal growth has been described. To describe an unusual case of transplacentally acquired organophosphorus poisoning, highlighting the clinical presentation, the management with atropine, and the neurological outcome. 36-weeks premature newborn, whose mother presented acute intentional organophosphorus poisoning 17 hours before birth. The patient was born by emergency C-section, without respiratory distress, with bradycardia, hypotonia, miosis, and bron- chorrhea, as well as clinical signs and laboratory evidence of acute poisoning, with severe metabolic acidosis, and decreased cholinesterase activity. She required advanced resuscitation, management in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with invasive ventilation, inotropes, and repeated doses of atropine. She evolved with left hemiparesis and convulsive syndrome that was treated with phenobarbital. She was discharged at 34 days of life with her mother, under custody and supervision of social and family welfare. Treatment and follow-up were suspended until her first year of life when her custody was transferred to an aunt. In neurological control at 18 months, she presented persistence of hemiparesis and speech-language delay, without new seizures. Organophosphorus poisoning is very rare in the neonatal period and due to the absence of guidelines for the management of this type of patients its treatment is challenging and must be individualized, multidisciplinary, evaluating the risk and benefit of each intervention.