Verapamil poisoning in an infant

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pediatric Toxicology

Background:

• Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker used for cardiovascular conditions.
• Accidental verapamil ingestion in infants can lead to severe toxicity.

Observation:

• An 11-month-old infant ingested 400 mg of verapamil, presenting with coma, seizures, respiratory depression, bradycardia, and hypotension.
• Seizures were a novel finding in this case of verapamil poisoning.

Findings:

• The infant's seizures were successfully managed.
• Resuscitation involved intravenous normal saline, calcium chloride, isoproterenol, and dopamine.

Implications:

• This case highlights the potential for seizures in verapamil poisoning.
• Intravenous calcium is a crucial component in managing verapamil toxicity.