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Case Reports
. 2022 Feb 11;6(2):ytac039.
doi: 10.1093/ehjcr/ytac039. eCollection 2022 Feb.

Taxine alkaloid poisoning successfully supported with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a case report

Catherine Ward  1 , Daveena Meeks  1 , Richard Trimlett  2 , Joana Alçada  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Taxine alkaloid poisoning successfully supported with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a case report

Catherine Ward et al. Eur Heart J Case Rep. .

Abstract

Background: Ingestion of the berries of the European yew tree can result in fatal cardiac arrhythmias.

Case summary: A 53-year-old female presented to our emergency department following ingestion of ∼200 European yew tree berries. At presentation, she was in cardiogenic shock due to a mixture of tachy- and bradyarrhythmias including ventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation with slow ventricular response and prolonged ventricular conduction, and periods of asystole. She was referred to a specialist cardiac centre and promptly established on mechanical circulatory support with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) by a retrieval team. Following resolution of her arrhythmias, she was weaned from V-A ECMO after 4 days of support and was discharged home with full neurological recovery on Day 12.

Discussion: Poisoning can lead to acute reversible but potentially fatal cardiogenic shock. We believe that access to prompt initiation of V-A ECMO was key to this patient's survival.

Keywords: Case report; European yew tree; Mechanical circulatory support; Poisoning; Taxus baccata; Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
An electrocardiogram demonstrating atrial fibrillation with abnormal ventricular contraction.
Figure 2
Figure 2
An electrocardiogram demonstrating ventricular tachycardia.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pulsed-wave Doppler in the left ventricular outflow tract.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Considerations for the decision to initiate extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
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None
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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