Cardiac dysfunction and pulmonary edema following scorpion envenomation.
Cardiac dysfunction with pulmonary edema following scorpion envenomation (SE) has been documented only in a few isolated case reports. We conducted a systematic hemodynamic study in five consecutive patients (mean age, 21.6 +/- 8 years) presenting with pulmonary edema occurring a few hours (9.6 +/- 5.2 hours) after SE. All patients had increased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (mean, 25 +/- 1.8 mm Hg) while the systemic vascular resistance was elevated only in one. The stroke volume index was markedly depressed (21.7 +/- 3.6 ml/sq m) whereas cardiac index was normal or slightly decreased (2.5 +/- 0.4 L/min/sq m). Cerebral infarct and sudden cardiac arrest were the cause of death in two patients. In the three survivors, all the hemodynamic disturbances and respiratory abnormalities disappeared within a few days. We conclude that cardiac dysfunction was found in all five patients and this was reversible in the three surviving the acute episode.
Abroug
F
F
Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, Hopital Universitaire Fattouma Bourguiba, Monastir, Tunisia.
Boujdaria
R
R
Belghith
M
M
Nouira
S
S
Bouchoucha
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000209:etiology*; D065008:Scorpion Stings / Q000150:complications*; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012605:Scorpions; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology
D012604:Scorpion Venoms