TOXICOLOGY, V-SERIES NERVE AGENTS

Course overview

V-SERIES NERVE AGENTS ARE ORGANOPHOSPHATE ESTERS THAT ARE USED AS CHEMICAL WEAPONS. THEY ARE EXTREMELY POTENT ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE INHIBITORS. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS INCLUDE SEIZURES, SALIVATION, LACRIMATION, URINATION, DIAPHORESIS, DIARRHEA, VOMITING, MIOSIS, AND MUSCLES SPASMS. AS LITTLE AS A FEW MILLIGRAMS OF SOME V-SERIES AGENTS CAN BE LETHAL TO HUMANS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, EVALUATION, AND TREATMENT OF PATIENTS AFFECTED BY V-SERIES AGENTS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR THESE PATIENTS.