• Andreas Zutter, Kathrin Hauri, Katrina S Evers, Sabine Uhde, Jens Fassl, Oliver Tobias Reuthebuch, Andreas Berset, Michael Kühne, and Birgit C Donner.
• From the Division of Pediatric Intensive Care and Pulmonology.
• Pediatr Emerg Care. 2019 Dec 1; 35 (12): e223-e225.

ObjectiveThe study aims to describe the management of a case of life-threatening yew (Taxus baccata) intoxication.BackgroundThe needles of the yew tree contain highly cardiotoxic taxines. Intoxication with taxines, typically as part of suicide attempts, may lead to potentially lethal arrhythmias which often require prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other supportive measures. No specific therapy has been described. In some cases, extracorporeal life support has been used.CaseAfter an attempted suicide with yew needles and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, a female adolescent was resuscitated for 6 hours according to Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support guidelines. Complex ventricular tachycardias were treated by repeated direct current shocks and broad complex bradycardia managed with transvenous cardiac pacing. Antiarrhythmic drugs (amiodarone, lidocaine), magnesium sulfate, and supportive measures (intravenous lipids, sodium bicarbonate) were provided. The arrhythmias finally resolved, and the patient did not show any significant neurological or cardiac short-term sequelae after 24 hours.ResultsThe authors describe the successful management of a case of severe taxine intoxication by prolonged conventional advanced cardiac life support lasting for more than 6 hours.ConclusionsIn life-threatening yew intoxication, prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation is absolutely essential owing to the long duration of the cardiotoxic action of taxines and can lead to an outcome without cardiac or neurological sequelae.

36 keywords...

hide…