Severe cardiac dysrhythmia from barium acetate ingestion.
A 15-year-old girl presented with a severe cardiac dysrhythmia after having ingested an unknown chemical. Lidocaine therapy improved the dysrhythmia. Other clinical findings included arterial hypertension, vomiting, paresthesias, muscle weakness, and severe hypokalemia (1.8 mmol/L). Analysis of a portion of the noningested chemical and the finding of 130 mg/L of barium in the urine confirmed the identity of the ingestant. Barium poisoning is rare. Its presentation as a life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmia is previously unreported.
D000085:Acetates / Q000506:poisoning*; D019342:Acetic Acid; D000293:Adolescent; D001464:Barium / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000139:chemically induced*
D000085:Acetates; D001464:Barium; D019342:Acetic Acid