Cardiogenic shock secondary to taxus baccata poisoning

Summary A 55‐yr‐old man presented to the emergency department complaining of dizziness and collapse. His past medical history included post‐traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and irritable bowel syndrome. He was pale, clammy and confused. He was hypotensive and bradycardic with broad and dysmorphic QRS complexes on his ECG. Initial investigations revealed a potassium level of 6.3 mmol.l ‐1 on a venous blood gas sample. This was treated with intravenous calcium gluconate, fluids and an insulin‐dextrose infusion. He improved over a short period of time, made a full recovery and was discharged home from the coronary care unit the next day. He was subsequently found to have suffered with taxus baccata posioning from consumption of the leaves of the English yew tree.