title: Extracorporeal bypass for the treatment of verapamil poisoning.
abstract: A 25-month-old boy ingested six sustained-release verapamil tablets, each containing 240 mg of drug. Charcoal and cathartic were given but were never passed per rectum. Third-degree heart block, hypotension, and hypocalcemia were only transiently responsive to calcium infusions, inotropic agents, and epicardial pacing. Cardiopulmonary arrest with electromechanical dissociation ensued. Standard cardiopulmonary bypass was used to allow sufficient time for liver detoxication. Serum levels of verapamil fell during the bypass procedure, and the patient's cardiac status improved. However, continued absorption of drug after bypass resulted in a level of 4 mg/L, unresponsive circulatory failure, and death. Early, aggressive gut decontamination and the potential value of cardiopulmonary bypass procedures in poisoning that lead to cardiac depression are emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Hendren
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Schieber
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Garrettson
mesh_terms: D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced; D014700:Verapamil / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D014700:Verapamil