RESUMEN
Ventricular fibrillation is not known as a complication of metronidazole poisoning. Although some arrhythmias have been reported as a complication of metronidazole intake while taking antiarrhythmic medications, most such arrhythmias are possibly related to co-ingestion of drugs with metronidazole as it affects the metabolism of these drugs. In this case, ventricular fibrillation occurred in a young patient without preexisting medical conditions or any other known drug ingestion, which was never been reported before. We present a case of an 18-year-old male brought in by the ambulance service after attempting to end his life by overdosing on metronidazole. While being transported he developed ventricular fibrillation and received an electric shock, which reverted the episode. Laboratory investigations did not show any clear cause that might have precipitated his arrhythmia.
RESUMEN
Salbutamol-induced QT interval prolongation is a relatively rare adverse effect of beta2-agonists. We report a case of a two-year-old female patient with no known past medical history, brought by her parents to the ED 30 minutes after ingesting a total dose of 97 mg of salbutamol solution. ECG was done for the patient when she arrived and showed sinus tachycardia with prolonged QTc (509 ms) and normal QRS complex. The patient was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) with persistent tachycardia and tachypnea in the initial reassessment. ECG was repeated with normal QT interval after IV Mg sulfate. The patient was observed in PICU for 12 hours with serial ECG and venous blood gas (VBG). IV potassium chloride (KCL) infusion started, and serial VBG showed normal potassium and lactate. The patient was doing well in the next six hours, with normal serial ECG, labs, and vital signs. In conclusion, salbutamol-induced QT prolongation has infrequently been reported in the literature. Although inhaled salbutamol is commonly used in clinical practice, physicians have limited experience with the severe features of its toxicity. Salbutamol is known to cause minimal side effects, which may be under-recognized and progress to serious manifestations such as hypokalemia, QT prolongation, and sudden cardiac death.