Citation

Rognoni A, Bertolazzi M, Peron M, Macciò S, Cameroni GT, Gratarola A, Rognoni G. Cases J. 2009; 2: 9137.

Affiliation

Department of Cardiology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Corso Mario Abbiate 21, 13100, Vercelli, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/1757-1626-2-9137

PMID

20062654

PMCID

PMC2803934

Abstract

Flecainide is a class Ic anti-arrhythmic drug with sodium channel blocking activities. We report a case of a 57 year - old woman who attempted a suicide by ingesting approximately 1,8 gr of flecainide. On the surface electrocardiogram this results in a large QRS complex and in prolongation of the QTc interval. Overdose with a class Ic drug is very uncommon, its management is difficult and the mortality high.Because of a hemodynamic instability and in addition to supportive care and antidysrhythmics, she was treated with a high dose of sodium bicarbonate in hypertonic solution; after this infusion the patient's QRS progressive narrowed.In conclusion, sodium bicarbonate may be useful in the treatment of widened QRS and to stabilize a overdose of class Ic anti-arrhythmic drugs.

Language: en