Severe poisoning with sotalol and verapamil. Recovery after 4 h of normothermic CPR followed by extra corporeal heart lung assist

Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2005 Oct;49(9):1378-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-6576.2005.00709.x.

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / poisoning*
  • Adult
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / poisoning*
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation*
  • Female
  • Heart Arrest / chemically induced
  • Heart Arrest / therapy
  • Heart-Assist Devices*
  • Humans
  • Respiration, Artificial
  • Sotalol / poisoning*
  • Suicide, Attempted
  • Verapamil / poisoning*

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Sotalol
  • Verapamil