Citation

Mani UA, Kumar M, Abbas H, Gupta P. Front. Emerg. Med. 2022; 6(4).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Tehran University of Medical Sciences)

DOI

10.18502/fem.v6i4.10431

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Through the reporting of this case series, we aim to establish whether a conservative approach, through managing arrhythmias and vital signs, can be reliably used as a treatment modality for oleander poisoning in developing countries.

METHODS: This study is a case series of 11 patients who presented with oleander poisoning and were conservatively managed in the absence of standard antidote.

RESULTS: All 11 patients treated with conservative approach survived. Conservative approach included use of atropine for management of symptomatic bradycardia followed by Dopamine infusion, correction of serum potassium and magnesium levels, standby defibrillation, and transvenous pacing.

CONCLUSION: The absence of reliable dosage of poison ingested, the lack of facilities for serum digoxin estima-tion, and the unavailability of digoxin fab antibodies pose challenges for the management of patients with oleander poisoning. Patients can, however, be managed conservatively following the Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) algorithm in a setting that lacks the standard treatment of this poison. © 2022 Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

Language: en

Keywords

Suicide; Poisoning; Self-Injurious Behavior; Digoxin; Nerium; Thevetia; Antibodies