2020 Volume 70 Issue 4 Pages 359-362
A woman in her 30s ingested 12 leaves of Nerium oleander to commit suicide, and was transferred to our hospital by ambulance 19 hours later because of worsening nausea. On arrival at the emergency room (ER), we detected drowsiness, limb weakness, tremor, and sinus bradycardia with a heart rate of 50/min; however, her general condition was stable. Her serum potassium level (4.1 mEq/l) was within the normal range. She was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after administration of activated charcoal and laxative in the ER. Her general condition was stabilized, and she was moved from the ICU to a general inpatient ward on the 2nd hospital day. Finally, she was uneventfully discharged on the 5th hospital day.
Nerium oleander is poisonous because it contains cardiac glycosides. Early identification of the poisoning substance and aggressive intervention with medical treatment are important.
