Citation

Agrawal A, Kumar A, Consul S, Yadav A. Indian J. Crit. Care Med. 2015; 19(4): 233-236.

Affiliation

Department of Medicine, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine, Publisher Medknow Publications)

DOI

10.4103/0972-5229.154570

PMID

25878433

Abstract

Scorpion bites are common in India. Usually, these bites are harmless but sometimes have serious clinical sequelae, including death. We report herein a case of scorpion bite with electrocardiographic abnormalities simulating early myocardial infarction. Pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure accompanied these electrocardiographic changes as well as serum cardiac markers. The etiology of cardiovascular manifestations in severe scorpion sting is related to venom effect on sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal secretion of catecholamines as well as to the toxic effect of the venom on the myocardium itself. It is a rare case of scorpion sting presented as myocardial infarction and heart failure, successfully treated with Intensive Care Unit care, noninvasive ventilation, vasopressors, and antiischemic treatment.

Language: en