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.
Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, Hopital Universitaire Fattouma Bourguiba, Monastir, Tunisia.
F
F
Abroug
R
R
Boujdaria
M
M
Belghith
S
S
Nouira
S
S
Bouchoucha
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