Severe cardiac dysrhythmia from barium acetate ingestion

A 15-year-old girl presented with a severe cardiac dysrhythmia after having ingested an unknown chemical. Lidocaine therapy improved the dysrhythmia. Other clinical findings included arterial hypertension, vomiting, paresthesias, muscle weakness, and severe hypokalemia (1.8 mmol/L). Analysis of a portion of the noningested chemical and the finding of 130 mg/L of barium in the urine confirmed the identity of the ingestant. Barium poisoning is rare. Its presentation as a life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmia is previously unreported.