The following is a summary of the clinical symptoms, ECG changes and treatment of 10 cases of acute aconite poisoning.
1, The preponderant motives for taking aconite were for the treatment of indigestion, arthralgia. Other motives included one case each of treatment of heart disease, general body warmth and attempted suicide.
2. The major symptoms of acute poisoning were, in order of frequency, arrhythmia, irritability and restlessness, nausea and vomiting, tingling and numbness of mouth and/or extremities, chest discomfort and dizziness.
3. The most frequent type of arrhyhmia seen was junctional rhythm. In addition premature atrial contraction, premature ventricular contraction, A-V dissociation, low atrial rhythm, complete A-V block were also observed.
4. Treatment with supportive measurse and the administration of potassium chloride and lidocaine brought about clinical recovery and disappearance of arrhythmias within 1 day in all cases. In two of these first degree A-V block persisted.
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