Key result
Administration of calcium chloride repeatedly produced a dramatic restoration of blood pressure and narrowing of QRS complexes in a patient with severe propranolol overdose.
Why the study?
Does calcium chloride improve hemodynamics and ECG abnormalities in severe propranolol overdose?
Case Report (n=1)
Does calcium chloride improve hemodynamics and ECG abnormalities in severe propranolol overdose?
Calcium chloride may be an effective rescue therapy for severe propranolol overdose presenting with electromechanical dissociation.
May support calcium chloride as rescue in propranolol overdose; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation.
OBJECTIVE: To present a case of severe propranolol overdose which responded dramatically to the administration of calcium chloride. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 22-year-old female Caucasian who was unemployed arrived by ambulance to a hospital emergency department after propranolol overdose. She was convulsing and in electromechanical dissociation. An electrocardiogram showed sinus rhythm with broad QRS complexes. She had no relevant medical history. INTERVENTION: Resuscitation with basic and then advanced life support and administration of oxygen, adrenaline, atropine, fluids and bicarbonate gave no response. Calcium chloride, however, repeatedly produced a dramatic restoration of blood pressure and a narrowing of the QRS complexes. She made a good recovery with no sequelae. CONCLUSION: Calcium chloride may have a role to play in propranolol overdose.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Brimacombe et al. (1991) conducted a case report in Propranolol overdose (n=1). Calcium chloride was evaluated on Restoration of blood pressure and narrowing of QRS complexes. Administration of calcium chloride repeatedly produced a dramatic restoration of blood pressure and narrowing of QRS complexes in a patient with severe propranolol overdose.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: