Two Cases of Chloral Hydrate Overdose

Abstract

Chloral hydrate overdose is associated with cardiac toxicities, gastrointestinal tract injuries, central nervous system and respiratory depression. Among all the complications, cardiac arrhythmias are particularly concerning and frequently reported in the literature. The majorities of fatalities from chloral hydrate overdose are due to refractory cardiac arrhythmia. Chloral hydrate-induced arrhythmias are resistant to most of the standard anti-arrhythmic agents but have good response to propranolol. We report two cases of severe chloral hydrate overdose presenting with alarming cardiac rhythm disturbances. One of the patients was successfully treated with intravenous propranolol in the accident and emergency department. The management of chloral hydrate overdose in particular to its cardiac toxicity is reviewed.