For a patient exposed to cyanide, what is the mainstay of treatment?

Cyanide exposure requires immediate medical attention due to its rapid and life-threatening effects on the body, primarily by inhibiting cellular respiration. The mainstay of treatment in such cases is antidote therapy, which specifically targets the effects of cyanide.

The most commonly used antidotes include hydroxocobalamin and sodium thiosulfate. Hydroxocobalamin works by binding to cyanide to form a non-toxic complex that can be excreted in urine, while sodium thiosulfate enhances the body’s natural ability to detoxify cyanide by aiding in its conversion to thiocyanate, which is also less toxic. Administering these antidotes can significantly decrease the toxicity of cyanide and improve the patient's chances of recovery.

Other treatment options, while they may be important in a broader emergency care context, do not directly counter the effects of cyanide. Fluid therapy, for instance, is vital for maintaining blood pressure and hydration status but does not address the fundamental biochemical disturbance caused by cyanide. Similarly, pain management may be necessary for overall patient comfort, especially in traumatic cases, but it does not work toward resolving cyanide toxicity. Antibiotic therapy would only come into play if there were an infectious complication, which is irrelevant in