March 28, 2024
This is a real-world case of a multi-drug overdosed patient that would have died without ECMO. We talk about ECMO being a bridge to an intervention. Well, sometimes ECMO is a bridge to metabolism of drug/med that they OD'd on.
mccollum2013
Dan McCollum MD

Dan McCollum MD
Assistant Program Residency Director at Georgia Regents University
Augusta, Georgia
Academic Medical center, Level 1 Trauma Center: census >90,000/yr

“If someone is doing an effective therapy out of the back of a truck successfully, and you can’t make it work in your hospital, then you suck and should feel bad.”

 

Case: 38 y/o female multi-drug OD on (possibly):

  1. Montelukast 10 mg (Singulair) – leukotriene receptor antagonist. mild tox profile (3698 pediatric ingestions from Texas Poison Control: 95% asymptomatic)
  2. Promethazine 25 mg (Phenergan) – Anticholinergic (56% tachycardia, 42% delirium, 2% mechanical ventilation, 1% hypotension)
  3. Cyproheptadine 4 mg  – Anticholinergic; mild tox profile (892% of OD in one case series had no or mild symptoms)
  4. Clonazepam 1 mg (Klonipin) – Common: respiratory depression and hypotension; Rare: heart block/dysrythmia
  5. Amitriptyline 25 mg – TCA – Hypotension.  QRS widening with R wave in AVR
    • Treatment:
      • antidote = sodium bicarbonate
      • crystalloid for hypotension
      • Pressors for refractory hypotension
  6. Amlodipine 5 mg – Calcium Channel Blocker – Common: Bradycardia, hypotension, heart block; Rare: apnea, pulmonary edema, ARDS, coma, Lactica acidosis, hypoerglycemia, bowel infarction
    • Treatment:
      1. IVF
      2. High Dose Calcium (inotrope)
      3. Pressors – Isoproterenol
      4. Glucagon
      5. Atropine
      6. High Dose Insulin – 1-10 unit/kg/hr infusion (consider simultaneous glucose infusion)

 

Timeline before ECMO:

  • 02:00-17:00     Estimated time of ingestion:  (2-15 hours PTA).
  • 19:00                 Presentation to ED
  • 19:30                 BP 55/33; sats 93% on 60% FiO2
  • 19:41                  PEA ARREST #1
    • Epinephrine, Atropine, Sodium Bicarbonate, Calcium Gluconate, D50
    • Narcan > No response
  • 19:54                  Bradycardia with pulse
  • 20:10                  Bicarbonate gtt
  • 20:15                  Epinephrine gtt
  • 20:18                  High Dose Insulin bolus, then gtt
  • 20:31                  TC pacing
  • 20:40                 Norepi gtt, Charcoal
  • 20:46                 CXR = pulmonary edema
  • 21:07                  Bivent initiation
  • 21:14                  Intralipid bolus
  • 21:16                  Glucagon
  • 21:21                  43/29 with sats 69% and pulse 70
  • 21:31                 pRBC transfusion initiated

 

Total Meds used in resuscitation:

  • Calcium Gluconate:                21 Amps
  • Sodium Bicarbonate:             19 Ams
  • Epinephrine:                           9.5 mg + drips
  • Insulin:                                     ~150 units

Complications during hospitalization (but the patient is alive!):

  1. AF with RVR
  2. DVT
  3. ipsilateral limb ischemia > Necrotizing fasciitis > AKA
  4. Pleural Effusion > chest tube
  5. Bowel perforation (due to ischemia) > laparotomy
  6. Trach/PEG
  7. Abdominal Wall Abscess > I&D

 

Learning Points:

  1. RUSH exam early for undifferentiated shock
  2. Restrictive lung strategy to avoid ARDS
  3. Multi-agent OD: contact Poison Control – they can actually help! 1-800-411-8080
  4. ECMO is a bridge to metabolism/recovery.

“If someone is doing an effective therapy out of the back of a truck successfully, and you can’t make it work in your hospital, then you suck and should feel bad.” – Dan

*and special thanks to Dan McCollum for creating and sharing the Napoleon Dynomite memes.

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