Nearly died from an overdose of blood pressure medication.

On the afternoon of April 23, Can Tho Central General Hospital announced that its doctors had successfully saved a critically ill patient who had overdosed on antihypertensive medication using ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). This is the first case of an overdose of antihypertensive medication successfully treated with ECMO at the hospital.

Báo Công an Nhân dân•23/04/2025

A female patient, LHTL (born in 1979, residing in Can Tho City), was transferred to Can Tho Central General Hospital from a lower-level facility in a state of rapid pulse and low blood pressure. According to her family, the patient had a history of hypertension and was prescribed daily medication. 24 hours before admission, she took 140 tablets of Amlodipine 5mg (a calcium channel blocker used to treat hypertension) at once. Afterward, she experienced dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. She was taken to Hau Giang Provincial General Hospital for emergency treatment and then transferred to Can Tho Central General Hospital.

Nearly died from an overdose of blood pressure medication -0

Doctors are using ECMO to save patient L's life.

Upon admission, the patient had extremely low blood pressure, required high-dose vasopressors, had severe metabolic acidosis, and multiple organ failure. Intensive treatment was administered according to a specialized protocol, including continuous hemodialysis to balance acid-base levels and stabilize hemodynamics. Despite timely intervention, the patient's condition continued to worsen, developing respiratory failure and altered consciousness, requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. Blood pressure continued to drop despite high-dose vasopressors. Faced with refractory shock and a fatal prognosis, the doctors in the Intensive Care and Toxicology Unit decided to perform ECMO, considered the last resort to save the patient's life.

Nearly died from an overdose of blood pressure medication -0

Patient L's health is now stable.

By the sixth day of ECMO treatment, the patient's clinical condition showed signs of improvement. In addition to ECMO, the patient also received plasma exchange, continuous hemodialysis, protein infusions, and nutritional support. Currently, the patient is conscious, vital signs are stable, and the ventilator has been removed, the endotracheal tube extubated, and the patient has been transferred back to the Respiratory Internal Medicine Department for treatment and care.

According to Dr. Duong Thien Phuoc, Head of the Intensive Care and Toxicology Department, an overdose of calcium channel blockers can lead to very serious cardiac dysfunction. Overdosing on calcium channel blockers can cause heart failure, vasodilation, and hyperglycemia. Studies involving the use of ECMO in treating calcium channel blocker poisoning have shown remarkable effectiveness, with a survival rate to discharge reaching 84.6%...

Source: https://cand.com.vn/y-te/suyt-chet-vi-dung-thuoc-ha-huyet-ap-qua-lieu-i766074/