[Fatal voluntary poisoning with cibenzoline. Failure of conventional therapies].
BACKGROUND
Massive voluntary ingestion of cibenzoline causes major cardiotoxicity. We report on two cases where conventional treatments were ineffective.


METHODS
Two patients were admitted to the intensive care unit of a University Hospital after massive voluntary intoxication with cibenzoline. Delay to admission after ingestion of cibenzoline was 1.5 and 4 hours. Circulatory impairment developed rapidly in both patients due to major atrioventricular and ventricular conduction disorders. Conventional intensive care procedures (sodium lactate and adrenaline) were performed but only provided temporary and incomplete efficacy. Outcome was fatal in both cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The lethal potential of cibenzoline is very high. Extra-corporeal cardiocirculatory assistance might be an advisable measure if conventional therapy is unsuccessful. No clearly defined prognosis factors in cibenzoline intoxications have been reported.
Viallon
A
A
Service d'Urgence et Réanimation médicales, Hôpital Bellevue, CHU de Saint-Etienne.
Page
Y
Y
Lafond
P
P
Venet
C
C
Tardy
B
B
Zeni
F
F
Bertrand
J C
JC
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000506:poisoning*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000506:poisoning*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011041:Poisoning / Q000628:therapy; D013405:Suicide; D017211:Treatment Failure
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; C032151:cifenline
Intoxication volontaire mortelle à la cibenzoline. Echec des thérapeutiques conventionnelles.