Aconite poisoning with arrhythmia and shock
Sandeep Tak1, Manoj Lakhotia2, Alok Gupta2
1Asso. Professor of Medicine, Dr. S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur, India.
Indian Heart Journal
|October 19, 2016
Summary
Aconite (Bachnaag) poisoning caused severe cardiac issues, including shock and ventricular tachycardia. Prompt treatment with gastric lavage, activated charcoal, and medications like noradrenaline and amiodarone led to patient recovery.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Cardiology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Aconite poisoning is a serious medical emergency with potentially fatal cardiac complications.
- Early recognition and management are crucial for patient survival and recovery.
Observation:
- A 55-year-old male presented with symptoms of shock and significant cardiac arrhythmias, including ventricular ectopics and ventricular tachycardia, after ingesting Aconite root.
- Initial management with gastric lavage and activated charcoal did not resolve the hypotension.
Findings:
- Intravenous noradrenaline was required to stabilize blood pressure, with support continued for 48 hours.
- Amiodarone effectively controlled persistent ventricular excitability over 72 hours, leading to a gradual decrease in arrhythmias.
- The patient achieved normal sinus rhythm and was discharged on oral amiodarone, with full recovery noted at follow-up.
Implications:
- This case highlights the critical role of aggressive supportive care and antiarrhythmic therapy in managing severe Aconite-induced cardiotoxicity.
- Early intervention can prevent life-threatening complications and improve outcomes in Aconite poisoning cases.
- Amiodarone demonstrated efficacy in managing persistent ventricular arrhythmias secondary to Aconite toxicity.
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