Citation

Mittal N, Elmassry M, Abohelwa M. Proc. Bayl. Univ. Med. Cent. 2023; 36(2): 224-225.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Baylor Research Institute)

DOI

10.1080/08998280.2022.2136920

PMID

36876253

PMCID

PMC9980473

Abstract

Zinc phosphide toxicity is a rare entity that presents most frequently among farmers in developing countries who use it as a rodenticide. The phosphine gas released after the ingestion inhibits cytochrome c oxidase, disrupting the mitochondrial physiology and oxidative phosphorylation and causing myocardial stunning. Here we present a case of a 20-year-old man who attempted suicide with zinc phosphide toxicity. Initially, he was hemodynamically stable with a normal ejection fraction; however, in a few hours, he deteriorated quickly and became hemodynamically unstable, with rapid deterioration of his ejection fraction to 20%. He was started on norepinephrine and then dobutamine; however, he had cardiac arrest from refractory cardiogenic shock despite resuscitative measures.

Language: en

Keywords

Cardiogenic shock; metal phosphides; zinc phosphide