Bawaskar studied the available literature on scorpion-stings. Scorpion venom is a potent stimulator of the autonomic nervous system. Studies have shown that myocardial damage following scorpion-sting results from calcium ion influx into the heart muscle cells, hence a calcium channel blocker such as nifedipine was a rational choice of treatment. Bawaskar found sublingual nifedipine very suitable, particularly in severely anxious and agitated children with poor peripheral circulation. A report by Gueron and Yaron from Israel in 1970 had shown that scorpion venom is a potent sympathetic stimulator resulting in high serum catecholamine levels.
Prazosin produces decrease in preload and afterload by alpha receptor blockade.
For massive life-threatening pulmonary edema, he has used a sodium nitroprusside drip. Working in a rural setting, Dr. Bawaskar had to rely entirely on clinical observations for monitoring his patients and their response to therapy. This he did by observing and recording blood pressure every 30 minutes, heart rate, auscultation of the heart for systolic murmur and S 3 gallop, auscultation of lung bases for evidence of rales indicating pulmonary edema, warmth of the extremities and ECG changes, and chest radiographs to document pulmonary edema and its clearance after therapy. Thus he could document that pulmonary edema took three to six hours to disappear and at the end of 72 hours radiography still showed cardiomegaly.