Logo American Journal of Case Reports

Call: 1.631.629.4328
Mon-Fri 10 am - 2 pm EST

Contact Us

Logo American Journal of Case Reports Logo American Journal of Case Reports Logo American Journal of Case Reports

24 May 2020 : Case report  Colombia

Successful Outcome Following Intravenous Lipid Emulsion Rescue Therapy in a Patient with Cardiac Arrest Due to Amitriptyline Overdose

Management of emergency care

Ana María Angel-Isaza1ABCDEF*, Luis Alfonso Bustamante-Cristancho12ABCDEF, Francisco L. Uribe-B3EF

DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.922206

Am J Case Rep 2020; 21:e922206

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The management of patients with tricyclic antidepressant drug overdose can be a challenge for the emergency department physician. Tricyclic antidepressants block alpha-adrenergic receptors and the anticholinergic effects may lead to cardiotoxicity, resulting in arrhythmias and hypotension that can lead to patient mortality. This report is of a case of a 28-year-old woman who presented with cardiac arrest due to amitriptyline overdose and who responded to intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) therapy.

CASE REPORT: A 28-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department with amitriptyline overdose. She suffered a cardiac arrest followed by cardiovascular and neurological complications. Hypotension and lack of a pulse did not respond to treatment with high-dose sodium, but she stabilized following treatment with ILE. The prompt response from the emergency team guaranteed rapid intervention that may have influenced the successful results.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite the frequency and severity of poisoning with tricyclic antidepressants, there is little consensus among physicians regarding patient management. This case showed the successful use of ILE as rescue therapy in a patient in cardiac arrest following amitriptyline overdose. However, the successful outcome obtained in this case is not a recommendation for the use of ILE as a first-line treatment for the management of patients with tricyclic antidepressant drug overdose. Controlled clinical studies are required to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ILE in the management of tricyclic antidepressant drug overdose.

Keywords: Antidepressive Agents, Arrhythmias, Cardiac, Drug Overdose, Fat Emulsions, Intravenous, Amitriptyline, Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic, Electrocardiography, Heart Arrest

Add Comment 0 Comments

In Press

Case report  China

Vision-Threatening Complications of Juxtapapillary Retinal Capillary Hemangioma: A Case of Retinal Artery O...

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.946514  

Case report  USA

Treatment of Post-COVID-19 Pulmonary Aspergilloma: Insights from a Clinical Case

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.946456  

Case report  China

Rare Presentation of Middle Ear Neuroendocrine Tumor: A Case Report

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.945602  

Case report  Austria

Rare Lacrimal Gland Melanoma: A Case Report and Treatment Insights

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.946361  

Most Viewed Current Articles

21 Jun 2024 : Case report  China (mainland) 90,126

Intracranial Parasitic Fetus in a Living Infant: A Case Study with Surgical Intervention and Prognosis Anal...

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.944371

Am J Case Rep 2024; 25:e944371

0:00

07 Mar 2024 : Case report  USA 50,309

Neurocysticercosis Presenting as Migraine in the United States

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.943133

Am J Case Rep 2024; 25:e943133

0:00

20 Nov 2023 : Case report  Saudi Arabia 25,989

Azithromycin Treatment for Acne Vulgaris: A Case Report on the Risk of Clostridioides difficile Infection

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.941424

Am J Case Rep 2023; 24:e941424

0:00

18 Feb 2024 : Case report  Japan 22,732

A Case of Thoracic Empyema Caused by Actinomyces naeslundii

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.943030

Am J Case Rep 2024; 25:e943030

0:00

Your Privacy

We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website, You can decise for yourself which categories you you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available. View our privacy policy.

American Journal of Case Reports eISSN: 1941-5923
American Journal of Case Reports eISSN: 1941-5923