Is lipid emulsion therapy effective in calcium-channel-blocker and beta-blocker overdose?

2 out of 5 stars Role of intravenous lipid emulsions in the management of calcium channel blocker and β-blocker overdose: 3 years experience of a university hospital. Sebe A et al.  Postgrad Med 2015 Feb;127:119-124. Abstract The authors of this study, from Cukurova University School of Medicine in Turkey, retrospectively reviewed patients admitted to their hospital who were treated with lipid rescue therapy (LRT) for refractory hypotension, heart block, or cardiac arrest following overdose from a calcium-channel-blocker (CCB) or a beta-blocker (BB). They identified 15 patients(9 CCB, 6 BB.) There were two cardiac arrests; one of those patients died, the other survived with hypoxic encephalopathy. One additional patient survived with hypoxic encephalopathy. Twelve patients were reported discharged without sequelae. The authors’ stated goal was to “assess the efficacy of lipid emulsion as antidotal therapy in severe CCB and BB intoxications.” Unfortunately, their study has so many flaws that they don’t even come close to an answer.For one thing, their chart review has almost no methods. In addition, some key data are missing, such as the time interval between initial administration of LRT and reversal of hypotension and hypoperfusion. One other observation:the paper states that the CCB patients were treated with hyperinsulinemic euglycemia before LRT was started. However, their protocol was to give 1 g/kg dextrose followed by 0.5 U/kg/hour insulin. ...
Source: The Poison Review - Category: Toxicology Authors: Tags: Medical beta blocker overdose calcium channel blocker overdose intralipid lipid emulsion lipid rescue therapy Source Type: news