Citation

Fippel A, Berkel H, Finkemeyer S, Knape R, Hoitz J. Anasthesiol. Intensivmed. Notfallmed. Schmerzther. 2005; 40(9): 544-548.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Georg Thieme Verlag)

DOI

10.1055/s-2005-870204

PMID

16145643

Abstract

Intoxications with tricyclic antidepressants are often life threatening situations. In consequence of interference with many organ systems specific treatment consists in transportation to hospital under cardiopulmonary monitoring by physicians. The multiple possibilities of complications require the following treatments: continuous monitoring of the cardiovascular system, gastrolavage, application of carbon through a nasogastric tube, intubation and controlled ventilation in case of coma and continuous stand by for defibrillation. Additionally patients with stable parameters should be monitored in intensive care units because often there are no precursors of cardiac or pulmonary complications. We report the case of a 49-year old women with ingestion of 2500 mg of amitriptyline who suffered from multiple cardiac arrhythmias with following cardiac arrests and who required multiple defibrillations and resuscitation.

Language: de

Keywords

Amitriptyline; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Electric Countershock; Female; Heart Arrest; Hemodynamics; Humans; Middle Aged; Suicide, Attempted; Water-Electrolyte Balance