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PubMed · 15483758

[Strychnine poisoning].

N Scheffold·B Heinz·H Albrecht·A Pickert·J Cyran
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Abstract

HISTORY AND ADMISSION FINDINGS: A 46-year-old man presented two hours after ingestion of about 250 mg strychnine with severe violent, generalized convulsions, triggered by external stimuli. During the convulsion-free periods there were no abnormal signs in the physical examination. INVESTIGATION: The presence of strychnine was confirmed by urine analysis with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. TREATMENT AND COURSE: Because diazepam as anticonvulsant of choice was not effective in abating the convulsions the patient was intubated. A combination with midazolam, fentanyl and pancuronium was effective in controlling the convulsions. The patient was discharged from ICU on day three. CONCLUSION: Fatal outcome of strychnine poisoning demands an aggressive management with early intubation, control of muscle tremors and prevention of rhabdomyolisis and renal failure.

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Analgesics, OpioidAnti-Anxiety AgentsChromatography, GasDrug Therapy, CombinationFentanylHumansMaleMidazolamMiddle AgedNeuromuscular Nondepolarizing AgentsPancuroniumPoisoningStrychnineSuicide, AttemptedTreatment OutcomeCase ReportsComparative StudyEnglish AbstractJournal Article

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N Scheffold, B Heinz, H Albrecht, A Pickert, J Cyran. 2004-10-15. [Strychnine poisoning].. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2004-831869

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