ABSTRACT
Cases of calcium channel blocker overdose reported from India are few, and although rare, they are associated with high mortality. Management includes fluids, vasopressors, calcium gluconate or chloride, glucagon infusion, and hyperinsulinemia-euglycemia therapy along with some rescue therapies tried in anecdotal reports. We report here a case of life-threatening overdose of amlodipine with shock, refractory to conventional therapies. Salvage therapy with continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration using charcoal hemoperfusion with prior infusion of intravenous lipid emulsion resulted in a successful outcome.
ABSTRACT
Owing to its wide and easy availability, digoxin has got a significant abuse potential and may be used for suicidal purposes. Digoxin-specific antibody (Fab) fragments have become the mainstay of therapy for severe digoxin toxicity and have significantly helped in reducing mortality. However, due to its high cost and limited availability alternative measures may need to be used to manage severe intoxications especially in countries like India, where Fab fragments are unavailable. Here, we present a case of a young female who presented to our casualty with alleged history of consumption of 17.5 mg of digoxin tablets. After admission to ICU, she developed atrioventricular blocks with hemodynamic instability which had to be managed with temporary pacemaker. Her serum digoxin levels were high (12.63 ng/ml) and in the absence of Fab fragments, resin hemoperfusion was done which drastically reduced the serum digoxin levels and reverted the symptoms.
