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Asystole Immediately Following Intravenous Fat Emulsion for Overdose

  • Observation (Case Reports)
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Abstract

Use of intravenous fat emulsion (IFE) for the treatment of poisoned patients in extremis is increasing. Little literature exists describing failures and complications of IFE. We describe two cardiac arrests temporally associated with IFE. A 50-year-old woman presented after ingesting 80 total tablets of metoprolol 25 mg and bupropion 150 mg. Bradycardia and hypotension were refractory to calcium salts, catecholamines, and high dose insulin (HDI). With a pulse of 40/min and mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 30 mmHg, 100 mL of 20 % IFE was given; within 30 s, brady-asystolic arrest occurred. Pulses returned after 3 min of CPR. The patient died on hospital day 4 of multisystem organ failure (MSOF). A 53-year-old man presented after ingesting of 3,600 mg of diltiazem and 1,200 mg of propranolol. Bradycardia and hypotension were refractory to calcium salts, catecholamines, HDI, bicarbonate, and atropine. With a pulse of 30/min and a MAP of 40 mmHg, 150 mL of 20 % IFE was given; within 1 min, a brady-asystolic arrest occurred. Pulses returned after 6 min of CPR. The patient died on hospital day 7 of MSOF. Reported cases of IFE failures or potential complications are sparse. This report adds only case experience, not clarity. We report two cardiac arrests that were temporally associated with IFE.

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Acknowledgment

This manuscript is written in US English and is 2,183 words in length. We have no commercial associations or conflicts of interest to report, and all authors made substantial contributions to the manuscript. No funding was used in production of the paper.

This project was presented at the 2011 North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology as a poster presentation. The reference is listed below:

Cole JB, Ellsworth H, Engebretsen KM, Stellpflug SJ. Failure of High Dose Insulin and Intravenous Fat Emulsion in 2 Patients With Poison-Induced Cardiogenic Shock. Clin Toxicol. 2011; 49(6): 537–8 (abstract #55)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hennepin Regional Poison Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, 701 Park Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55415, USA

    Jon B. Cole

  2. Clinical Toxicology Service, Department of Emergency Medicine, Regions Hospital, 640 Jackson Street, Saint Paul, MN, 55101, USA

    Samuel J. Stellpflug & Kristin M. Engebretsen

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  1. Jon B. Cole
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  2. Samuel J. Stellpflug
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  3. Kristin M. Engebretsen
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Correspondence to Jon B. Cole.

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Cole, J.B., Stellpflug, S.J. & Engebretsen, K.M. Asystole Immediately Following Intravenous Fat Emulsion for Overdose. J. Med. Toxicol. 10, 307–310 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-014-0382-7

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