Severe labetalol overdose in an 8-month-old infant.
We report a case of a large labetalol overdose in an eight-month-old infant that was being treated for hypertension following surgery for coarctation of the aorta. Labetalol, both alpha and beta adrenergic blocking agent was used for treating postoperative hypertension. By mistake, the patient was given an extremely high dose of labetalol intravenously (17.2 mg.kg(-1)). Remarkably, the medication error had a surprisingly limited clinical effect on the infant who survived the incident. We discuss the pharmacokinetic, pharmocodynamic and possible explanations for this fortunate turn of events.
Thorsteinsson
Adalbjörn
A
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland. adalbjn@landspitali.is
Johannesdottir
Astridur
A
Eiríksson
Herbert
H
Helgason
Hródmar
H
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001017:Aortic Coarctation / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007223:Infant; D007741:Labetalol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008508:Medication Errors; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D007741:Labetalol