Recurrent ventricular arrhythmia due to aconite intoxication successfully treated with landiolol: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND Ventricular arrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, are the main causes of death in patients with aconite poisoning. CASE SUMMARY A 51-year-old man presented to our emergency department because he was vomiting after ingesting aconite root to attempt suicide. On arrival, the patient was hemodynamically unstable, and his electrocardiogram revealed polymorphic ventricular extrasystoles and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Amiodarone was immediately administered for ventricular arrhythmia. However, the patient remained unresponsive. We administered continuous intravenous landiolol as the ventricular arrhythmia worsened, gradually suppressing it. The patient returned to sinus rhythm 16 h after arriving at the hospital. Some aconitum alkaloids act on voltage-gated Na+- channels and induce ventricular or supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Landiolol suppresses sympathetic nerve activity through its blocking effect, preventing arrhythmia. CONCLUSION Landiolol can be a therapeutic option for amiodarone-refractory ventricular arrhythmias caused by aconite intoxication.