Severe Oleander Poisoning Presenting with Hyperkalaemia and Unusual Electrocardiographic Changes
  • Satyabrata Guru
    All India Insititute of Medica Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
  • Anupama Behera
    All India Insititute of Medica Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
  • Sadananda Barik
    All India Insititute of Medica Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
  • Upendra Hansdah
    All India Insititute of Medica Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
  • Chitta R Mohanty
    All India Insititute of Medica Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
  • Sangeeta Sahoo
    All India Insititute of Medica Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

Keywords

oleander poisoning, hyperkalaemia, ECG

Abstract

Background: Hyperkalaemia in oleander (Nerium oleander) poisoning has been associated with a poor prognosis. Different electrocardiographic (ECG) presentations are possible because of vagotonia and hyperkalaemia.

Methods/Results: We report a series of three cases of oleander poisoning in which ECG showed unusual hyperkalaemia features, such as bradyarrhythmia, sinoatrial block, atrioventricular block and junctional rhythm.

Conclusions: If arterial blood gas analysis or laboratory values indicate hyperkalaemia in oleander poisoning, the hyperkalaemia should be treated immediately, even if the ECG does not show typical hyperkalaemia features.

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    Published: 2021-12-14
    Issue: 2021: Vol 8 No 12 (view)

    How to cite:
    1.
    Guru S, Anupama Behera, Sadananda Barik, Upendra Hansdah, Mohanty CR, Sangeeta Sahoo. Severe Oleander Poisoning Presenting with Hyperkalaemia and Unusual Electrocardiographic Changes. EJCRIM 2021;8 doi:10.12890/2021_003044.