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An unusual cause of atrial fibrillation: Exposure to insecticides
Author(s) -
Topacoglu Hakan,
Unverir Pinar,
Erbil Bulent,
Sarikaya Sezgin
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.20410
Subject(s) - medicine , atrial fibrillation , vomiting , nausea , sinus rhythm , sinus bradycardia , anesthesia , normal sinus rhythm , emergency department , auscultation , junctional rhythm , cardiology , heart rate , bradycardia , blood pressure , psychiatry
Background Although there are many well‐known cardiac results of insecticide poisoning, atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been reported as the result of insecticide intoxication. Case Twenty‐six‐year‐old male, complaining of nausea and vomiting, presented to the emergency department with a history of methomyl dust exposure. All physical examination findings were normal except irregular heart rate on cardiac auscultation. The electrocardiogram of the patient showed AF with normal ventricular response. Patient's acetylcholinesterase (ACE) level was 3,319 IU/L in presentation and pralidoxim use was seen unnecessary for the treatment. The patient's rhythm spontaneously returned to sinus rhythm 24 hr after the presentation and no cardiopulmonary pathology was found during the follow‐up. The patient was discharged without symptoms. Conclusion AF is a rare complication of insecticide intoxication. In this case, treatment of symptoms was adequate until a normal sinus rhythm returned. Am. J. Ind. Med. 50:48–49, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.