Reversal of severe tricyclic antidepressant-induced cardiotoxicity with intravenous hypertonic saline solution

Ann Emerg Med. 2003 Jul;42(1):20-4. doi: 10.1067/mem.2003.233.

Abstract

A 29-year-old woman ingested 8 g of nortriptyline and presented to the emergency department with coma, hypotension, and widened QRS interval. After intubation, gastric lavage, hyperventilation, and therapy with intravenous normal saline solution, sodium bicarbonate boluses (rapid intravenous push), and high doses of norepinephrine and dopamine, she transiently improved, only to deteriorate on arrival to the ICU. Because her arterial pH was alkalemic at 7.5 at this point, she was given additional sodium in the form of 200 mL of 7.5% NaCl by means of rapid intravenous infusion (intravenous push) to treat hypotension and widening QRS interval with ventricular ectopy. A continuous 12-lead ECG documented narrowing of her QRS interval with concomitant improvement of hypotension within 3 minutes of hypertonic saline solution infusion. Hypertonic saline solution should be considered for wide complex QRS and hypotension caused by tricyclic antidepressant-induced cardiotoxicity that is unresponsive to standard therapies.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / poisoning*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / drug therapy
  • Electrocardiography
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Nortriptyline / poisoning*
  • Saline Solution, Hypertonic / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
  • Saline Solution, Hypertonic
  • Nortriptyline