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Relative safety of hyperinsulinaemia/euglycaemia therapy in the management of calcium channel blocker overdose: a prospective observational study

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Abstract

Objective

To examine the clinical safety of hyperinsulinaemia/euglycaemia therapy (HIET) in calcium channel blocker (CCB) poisoning.

Design

A prospective observational study examining biochemical and clinical outcomes of a HIET protocol administered under local poisons centre guidance.

Setting

Critical care settings.

Patients

Seven patients with significant CCB toxicity [systolic blood pressure (BP) < 90 mmHg] treated with HIET.

Interventions

HIET was commenced after correction of any pre-existing hypoglycaemia ([blood glucose] < 65 mg/dl) or hypokalaemia ([K+] < 3.5 mmol/l). A quantity of 50 ml of 50% intravenous dextrose was followed by a loading dose (1 unit/kg) of intravenous short-acting insulin and an insulin maintenance infusion (0.5–2.0 units/kg/h). Euglycaemia was maintained using 5–10% dextrose infusions. Potassium was maintained within low normal range (3.8–4.0 mmol/l).

Measurements and results

Six patients survived. All patients received fluids, calcium, and conventional inotropes. Three patients (who all ingested diltiazem) received an insulin-loading dose; all experienced a significant sustained rise in systolic BP (> 10 mmHg) during the first hour of HIET. Systolic BP did not increase significantly in four patients who did not receive insulin loading. Single episodes of non-clinically significant biochemical hypoglycaemia and hypokalaemia were recorded in one and two patients respectively. Hypoglycaemia was not recorded in any patient administered HIET during the 24 h following CCB ingestion.

Conclusions

HIET used to treat CCB-induced cardiovascular toxicity is a safe intervention when administered in a critical care setting. Maximal HIET efficacy may be obtained when HIET is administered in conjunction with conventional therapy relatively early in the course of severe CCB poisoning when insulin resistance is high.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Toxicology Unit, Guy’s and St. Thomas Poisons Unit, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, Avonley Rd, New Cross, SE14 5ER, London, UK

    Shaun L. Greene, David M. Wood & Paul I. Dargan

  2. Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, 20400, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

    Indika Gawarammana

  3. Department of Medicine and Toxicology, Newcastle Mater Miseracordiae Hospital, University of Newcastle, Locked Bag 7, NSW 2310, Hunter Regional Mail Centre, Australia

    Alison L. Jones

Authors
  1. Shaun L. Greene
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  2. Indika Gawarammana
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  3. David M. Wood
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  4. Alison L. Jones
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  5. Paul I. Dargan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shaun L. Greene.

Additional information

Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' Contributions: All authors participated in the design of the study and provided poisons centre guidance in the management of one or more of the study patients. S.G., I.G. and D.W. collected study data. S.G. drafted the first draft of the manuscript and all authors contributed to the final draft of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Funding: The authors have no funding sources to acknowledge.

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Greene, S.L., Gawarammana, I., Wood, D.M. et al. Relative safety of hyperinsulinaemia/euglycaemia therapy in the management of calcium channel blocker overdose: a prospective observational study. Intensive Care Med 33, 2019–2024 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-007-0768-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-007-0768-y

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