PROPRANOLOL OVERDOSE - A DRAMATIC RESPONSE TO CALCIUM-CHLORIDE

Objective: To present a case of severe propranolol overdose which responded dramatically to the administration of calcium chloride. Clinical features: A 22-year-old female Caucasian who was unemployed arrived by ambulance to a hospital emergency department after propranolol overdose. She was convulsing and in electromechanical dissociation. An electrocardiogram showed sinus rhythm with broad QRS complexes. She had no relevant medical history. Intervention: Resuscitation with basic and then advanced life support and administration of oxygen, adrenaline, atropine, fluids and bicarbonate gave no response. Calcium chloride, however, repeatedly produced a dramatic restoration of blood pressure and a narrowing of the QRS complexes. She made a good recovery with no sequelae. Conclusion: Calcium chloride may have a role to play in propranolol overdose.