MANAGEMENT
Resuscitation
- A: Intubate if agitated or obtunded (EARLY IS BETTER)
- B: Supportive
- C: IV fluid, Calcium, High Dose Insulin, Inotropes, Invasive Monitoring
SPECIFIC TREATMENTS (GRADUATED APPROACH)
- Fluid resuscitation, crystalloid
- Calcium: 60ml (0.6-1.0 ml/kg in children) bolus of 10% Calcium Gluconate over 5-10 min. May need to be repeated every 20 mins (Up to 3 doses). Then commence an infusion of Calcium Chloride (1g/hour), suggested optimal serum ionised Calcium 2mmol/L (VBG/ABG monitoring)
- High - Dose Insulin Therapy
- 50ml of 50% Glucose (25g) bolus THEN 1 IU/kg Actrapid (short acting Insulin) bolus
- Continue Glucose 25g/hr IV infusion & Short Acting Insulin 0.5 IU/kg/hr IV infusion
- Glucose infusion titrated to maintain euglycaemia
- Insulin infusion may need to be increased to 1 IU/kg/hr
- Infusions need to continue until CV instability has resolved
5. Inotropes: Noradrenaline &/or Adrenaline titration
6. Na Bicarbonate (50-100 mmol/L (0.5-1.0 mmol/L in children) for metabolic acidosis
7. Cardiac pacing: Often Difficult Transcutaneously, Transvenously next step
If cardiovascular collapse despite above, consider
- early invasive intervention and consideration of ECMO / Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Balloon Pump
- Methylene Blue (controversial and lacking good data but several case studies have shown benefit) 1.5mg/kg loading dose then 1.5mg/kg/hr infusion
- Lipid emulsion (Intralipid)
Decontamination
- Consider activated charcoal if presents early
- Whole bowel irrigation if slow release form ingested
- Consider charcoal haemoperfusion for verapamil
References
Calcium Channel Blocker Toxicity
Is methylene blue beneficial in treating calcium-channel-blocker overdose?
Methylene Blue in the Treatment of Refractory Shock From an Amlodipine Overdose.