Citation

Rygnestad T, Moen S, Wahba A, Lien S, Ingul CB, Schrader H, Knapstad SE. Acta Anaesthesiol. Scand. 2005; 49(9): 1378-1380.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1399-6576.2005.00709.x

PMID

16146479

Abstract

In acute poisoning with beta-blocking drugs and calcium-channel blockers patients may present with serious symptoms. We present a case of life-threatening sotalol and verapamil intoxication in a 29-year-old female suffering from depression. She was admitted to our hospital a few hours after she had taken 3.6 g verapamil and 4.8 g sotalol. On being found the patient was breathing and had a palpable pulse. On admission the patient experienced a cardiovascular collapse and CPR was started. Echocardiography confirmed cardiac standstill. After 4 h of normothermic CPR, extra corporeal heart lung assist (ECHLA) was established. Vasoactive drugs could be stopped after 2 days with ECHLA, and after 5 days the patient was extubated. The patient experienced several complications (intestinal bleeding, transient nerve paralysis, and renal failure due to rhabdomyolysis) but made a complete recovery and started working 6 months after the poisoning. She was no longer depressed.

Language: en

Keywords

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Adult; Calcium Channel Blockers; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Female; Heart Arrest; Heart-Assist Devices; Humans; Respiration, Artificial; Sotalol; Suicide, Attempted; Verapamil