1180

Abstract

Chest X-ray revealed flash pulmonary edema. She underwent cardiac catherization which revealed normal coronaries. Her hospital course was unremarkable and she was discharged to home. DISCUSSION Mechanism of SC is linked to overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system from high circulating catecholamines. Though extreme physical and emotional stress are well established risk factors of SC, extensive use of beta 2 agonist like in our case should be considered in a patient with signs and symptoms of acute coronary syndrome using albuterol. Initial management is supportive and removal from the potential stressor. CONCLUSION: Overuse of albuterol should be considered as a major stressor for SC in asthmatic patients and they should be counseled on proper use of this otherwise life saving drug.introduction: This is a case of a 28 year old man with history of polysubstance abuse, chronic depression and small bowel obstruction secondary to Crohn's disease, who was initially brought to an outside facility after he collapsed at home and was found to be pulseless. He had several episodes of witnessed seizures. Upon EMS arrival, he was noted to be in ventricular tachycardia without pulses and converted to sinus rhythm after ACLS was performed. Review of history revealed that he had been taking amitriptyline 150-200 mg daily and up to 60 loperamide tablets daily for his Crohn's disease-related diarrhea. Physical exam was only remarkable for a heart rate that ranged from 45 to 160 bpm. Initial laboratories revealed normal cardiac injury panel and urine toxicology that was positive for tricyclic antidepressants. Amitriptyline level was 182 mcg/L, which was within the therapeutic range. Loperamide level was elevated at 130 ng/ml (50 ng/ml). There have been previous reported cases that euphoric effects may be achieved with high doses of loperamide, usually in association with alduterants like quinidine, which in this case was undetectable. Multiple EKGs done showed interventricular conduction delay with prolong QTc at 850 msec, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. He was defibrillated multiple times for recurrent monomorphic wide complex tachycardias with temporary resolution. He eventually had to be intubated for airway protection and underwent temporary pacemaker insertion with overdrive pacing. He had an episode of torsades de pointes with bradycardia and had to be started on isoproterenol drip to maintain tachycardia. This was eventually discontinued as his QTc shortened to 500 msec. He was then extubated several days later. EKG at this time showed normal sinus rhythm, normal PR and GRS with QTc at 450 msec. Echocardiogram showed normal left ventricular ejection fraction and structure. Ventricular tachycardia is serious condition that usually indicates ischemia, cardiomyopathy or a structural disease. Loperamide is an antidiarrheal drug that acts through the opiod receptor, directly inhibiting peristalsis and prolonging intestinal transit time. Dizziness and constipation are the most commonly reported sid...