title: Association between droperidol use and sudden death in two patients intoxicated with illicit stimulant drugs.
abstract: Illicit drug intoxication is often a cause of extreme agitation in the emergency department and prehospital settings. Chemical restraint is often required to protect patient as well as health-care providers. Droperidol has commonly been used to sedate extremely agitated patients in the emergency department and psychiatric settings. Its safety has been demonstrated in these settings and in patients who's agitation has been attributed to amphetamine toxicity. We present 2 cases of sudden death following the use of droperidol to sedate 1 patient who was extremely agitated secondary to cocaine intoxication and another secondary to phencyclidine intoxication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical Toxicology Service, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Diana E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Koelliker
authors.forename: Kevin G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Bradley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004329:Droperidol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D004329:Droperidol