Lipid emulsion therapy in cardiodepressive syndrome after diltiazem overdose-case report

We present a case of diltiazem overdose in which the patient ingested 5.6 g in an apparent suicide attempt. She was admitted in the emergency department 2 hours postingestion with cardiodepressive syndrome. She was treated with gastric lavage, activated charcoal, intravenous fluids, calcium, and epinephrine, without improvement in vital signs. We gave her an infusion of 20% intralipid, leading to a favorable evolution. The patient was stable hemodynamically and metabolic in the following 24 hours. She was alert and oriented and was extubated in the second day. She was discharged after 4 days in a good state and without any neurologic deficits.