Fatal cardiac arrhythmias and shock following yew leaves ingestion

Ann Emerg Med. 1987 Dec;16(12):1396-7. doi: 10.1016/s0196-0644(87)80431-6.

Abstract

A 40-year-old woman presented with vomiting and abdominal pain following voluntary ingestion of 150 yew leaves. She developed ventricular conduction defects and arrhythmias unresponsive to medical treatment after admission. She expired five hours after yew ingestion from irreversible cardiogenic shock. More attention should be given to this rare but severe intoxication for which no effective therapy is known.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / etiology*
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / mortality
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / therapy
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pacemaker, Artificial
  • Plant Poisoning*
  • Shock / etiology*
  • Shock / mortality
  • Shock / therapy
  • Trees