American Journal of Emergency Medicine
Volume 13, Issue 2 , Pages 177-179, March 1995

Intravenous bretylium overdose

  • Jeffrey S Gibson, MD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress reprint requests to Dr Gibson, Department of Emergency Medicine, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA 23708.
    • ,
  • David W Munter, MD

From the Department of Emergency Medicine, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA. USA

Received 25 May 1994; accepted 27 July 1994.

Abstract 

An 81.5-mg/kg intravenous overdose of bretylium tosylate was administered to a 74-year-old patient after resuscitation from inferior wall myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest. The patient exhibited prolonged neurological depression with eventual neurological recovery. This case demonstrates the central nervous system depression that can occur with bretylium overdose. The emergency physician should be aware of this effect and avoid ending lifesaving measures because of apparent brain death in patients with bretylium overdose.

Keywords:  Bretylium tosylate, bretylium compounds, brain death

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PII: 0735-6757(95)90089-6

American Journal of Emergency Medicine
Volume 13, Issue 2 , Pages 177-179, March 1995

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