Long QT syndrome unmasked in an adult subject presenting with excited delirium.
BACKGROUND
Excited delirium is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for sudden death, though the specific pathophysiology of these deaths is typically unclear.


OBJECTIVE
We describe a survivor of excited delirium that displayed a transient severe prolongation of the QT interval, suggesting unmasking of long QT syndrome as a possible mechanism of sudden death.


METHODS
A 30-year-old man was arrested by police for violent assaultive behavior. Officers at the scene noted confusion, nonsensical speech, sweating, and bizarre agitated behavior; he was transported to the Emergency Department for medical evaluation of possible excited delirium. His initial electrocardiogram revealed a markedly prolonged corrected QT interval of over 600 ms. Intravenous hydration and sodium bicarbonate were administered, with normalization of the QT; he was admitted and recovered uneventfully.


CONCLUSIONS
We discuss the possible association between long QT syndrome and unexplained sudden deaths seen with excited delirium. Sodium bicarbonate may be considered when long QT syndrome is identified during or after agitated delirium, though its routine use cannot be recommended based on a case report.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27106, USA.
William P
WP
Bozeman
Karim
K
Ali
James E
JE
Winslow
D000328:Adult; D003693:Delirium / Q000150:complications*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D016495:Police; D011329:Prisoners; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000150:complications*; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate
D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate