Open AccessBizarre and scary ECG in yew leaves poisoning: Report of successful treatment
Author(s) -
Cerrato Natascia,
Calzolari Gilberto,
Tizzani Pietro,
Actis Perinetto Emma,
Dellavalle Antonio,
Aluffi Enzo
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
annals of noninvasive electrocardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.494
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1542-474X
pISSN - 1082-720X
DOI - 10.1111/anec.12535
Subject(s) - medicine , bradycardia , nausea , vomiting , antidote , abdominal pain , anesthesia , tachycardia , ventricular fibrillation , ventricular tachycardia , weakness , ingestion , confusion , cardiology , toxicity , heart rate , blood pressure , surgery , psychology , psychoanalysis
Yew leaves poisoning is a rare life‐threatening intoxication, whose diagnosis can be difficult. Initial symptoms are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, tachycardia, muscle weakness, confusion, beginning within 1 hr from ingestion and followed by bradycardia, ventricular arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation, severe hypotension, and death. Taxine‐derived alkaloids are responsible for the toxicity of the yew leaves, blocking sodium and calcium channels, and causing conduction abnormalities. Because of lack of a specific antidote and limited efficacy of common antiarrhythmic drugs, prompt diagnosis, detoxification measures, and immediate hemodynamic support (also with transvenous cardiac stimulation) are essential.