[Therapy of severe propafenone poisoning--an attempt at elimination by hemoperfusion]

After suicidal ingestion of 9 g Propafenone, a 31-year-old woman showed unconsciousness, cerebral convulsions, respiratory depression, sinus arrest, ventricular tachycardia and recurrent atrioventricular block. The maximum Propafenone plasma level was 4,702 ng/ml. Only 67.2 mg of Propafenone were eliminated within 4 h of hemoperfusion. Successful therapy could be achieved by symptomatic intensive care treatment. Additionally, 2 X 25 ml of 20%-saline solution were infused. In this case no efficacy of hemoperfusion in the treatment of Propafenone intoxication could be documented.