Taxine alkaloid poisoning successfully supported with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a case report

Abstract

Background

Ingestion of the berries of the European yew tree can result in fatal cardiac arrhythmias.

Case summary

A 53-year-old female presented to our emergency department following ingestion of ∼200 European yew tree berries. At presentation, she was in cardiogenic shock due to a mixture of tachy- and bradyarrhythmias including ventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation with slow ventricular response and prolonged ventricular conduction, and periods of asystole. She was referred to a specialist cardiac centre and promptly established on mechanical circulatory support with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) by a retrieval team. Following resolution of her arrhythmias, she was weaned from V-A ECMO after 4 days of support and was discharged home with full neurological recovery on Day 12.

Discussion

Poisoning can lead to acute reversible but potentially fatal cardiogenic shock. We believe that access to prompt initiation of V-A ECMO was key to this patient’s survival.

Learning points.

• In cases of yew toxicity there must be early anticipation of cardiac instability.

• Large metropolitan areas may benefit from a dedicated VA-ECMO retrieval team.

Introduction

The European yew tree (Taxus baccata) produces needles, bark, and berries that contain taxine alkaloids, which are toxic to humans upon consumption. Taxine alkaloids antagonize sodium and calcium channels within the cardiac myocardium, resulting in an increase in cytoplasmic calcium, leading to bizarre and potentially fatal cardiac rhythms.

We report the case of a 53-year-old female, who developed cardiogenic shock in the context of malignant arrhythmias following ingestion of ∼200 yew berries. We believe this patient only survived due to the prompt initiation of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO).

Following our own literature search, just eight cases were identified where extra-corporeal life support was either used or considered to support life in these instances.

Timeline

A timeline of the patient’s journey from admission to discharge.

Case presentation

A 53-year-old female presented to the emergency department (ED) of a district general hospital having deliberately ingested ∼200 berries from the European yew tree. Her past medical history included depression (treated with olanzapine) and two previous episodes of deliberate drug overdose with suicidal intent. She was brought to the hospital by ambulance having informed her family of the overdose. She denied co-poisoning.

On arrival at the ED, she had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 12 and was agitated and combative. Her chest was clear on auscultation. Her distal limbs were ice cold on palpation. Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring showed rapid cycling between a bizarre irregular rhythm with broad slurred QRS complexes which likely represented atrial fibrillation with abnormal ventricular conduction (Figure 1) and ventricular tachycardia with a pulse (with variable rates from 130 b.p.m. to 210 b.p.m.—Figure 2), interspersed with short episodes of asystole (during one episode, she received 20 s of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)—terminated due to signs of life). Non-invasive blood pressure was recorded as 50/30 mmHg.

Figure 1.

An electrocardiogram demonstrating atrial fibrillation with abnormal ventricular contraction.

Figure 2.

An electrocardiogram demonstrating ventricular tachycardia.

An initial venous blood gas revealed metabolic acidaemia (pH 7.31, H⁺ 48.5 nmol/L, HCO3⁻ 20.5 mmol/L), hyperlactataemia (lactate 4.9 mmol/L), and hypokalaemia (K⁺ 3.1 mmol/L).

A focused bedside transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) showed chaotic biventricular activity with occasional ejection (as assessed by pulsed-wave Doppler in the left ventricular outflow tract—Figure 3), a competent aortic valve and mild mitral and tricuspid regurgitation with no pericardial effusion. Following admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) a PiCCO line (Edwards Lifesciences, CA, USA) was inserted, and cardiac output was estimated at 1.5 L/min using a bolus thermodilution method.

Figure 3.

Pulsed-wave Doppler in the left ventricular outflow tract.

The patient was discussed with a consultant toxicologist at the National Poisons Information Service and a consultant electrophysiologist at a local tertiary cardiology centre. Initial management in the ED focused on anti-arrhythmics (summarized in the Timeline); however, this was challenging given the patient cycled between tachy- and bradyarrhythmias, with a resultant heart rate at times as low as 13 b.p.m.

Intravenous adrenaline was administered in 5 mcg boluses to support her blood pressure until a noradrenaline infusion was established via central venous access.

The regional ECMO service for respiratory failure in adults was contacted for consideration for the initiation of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) with V-A ECMO. A retrieval team were promptly dispatched. The patient was initiated on V-A ECMO in the ICU using a 21 Fr multistage drainage cannula sited in the femoral vein and a 15 Fr return cannula sited in the femoral artery. The patient was slim with excellent sub-costal windows for TTE, therefore a sub-costal bi-caval view was used to ensure correct guidewire placement. Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation commenced ∼6 h after the patient first presented to our hospital.

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation resulted in an almost immediate improvement in systemic blood pressure, allowing for discontinuation of vasopressor support and a degree of cardiac rhythm stability. She was transferred to the regional ECMO centre for ongoing management.

For the first 48 h following ECMO initiation, arrhythmias continued, including periods of asystole. A TTE at the time showed left ventricular impairment with biplane left ventricular ejection fraction of 49% and regional wall abnormalities including hypokinesia of the anterior septum. Coronary angiography was performed, revealing unobstructed coronaries. After 4 days of V-A ECMO, the TTE was entirely normal, implying recovery of cardiac function and she was weaned from MCS. She was repatriated to her local hospital and weaned from mechanical ventilation on day 7.

She remained stable and following assessment by psychiatric services and initiation of ongoing community mental health follow-up she was discharged home 12 days after presenting to the ED. She made a full recovery with no neurological deficit but required ongoing anti-coagulation due to a linear thrombus within the inferior vena cava, presumed to be related to the ECMO drainage cannula.

Discussion

The yew tree is native to Europe and apart from the red pulp of its berries, all parts are toxic.¹ Toxicity is due to the compound Taxane B, which antagonizes calcium and sodium channels in the cardiac myocytes, increasing cytoplasmic calcium.² Cytotoxic features led to yew being used by the healthcare sector in the chemotherapeutic agents docetaxel and paclitaxel.² Yew intoxication symptoms are initially non-specific, and include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and seizures.³ Subsequently patients can develop ECG rhythm disturbances, including atrioventricular (AV) conduction block, QRS broadening, ventricular fibrillation, and ultimately death.^2,4 There are no specific antidotes.⁵ Transcutaneous and percutaneous pacing are often ineffective.⁶

A literature search was conducted on Pubmed using the MeSH terms ECMO and yew and intoxication or suicide. This brought up eight studies concerning nine patients.^6–13 Patients ranged from 20 years old to 49 years old and six (67%) were female. Common features in their presentations included bradycardia and cardiogenic shock. Seven (78%) of the patients received ECMO and survived with largely good outcomes. One patient had persistent renal failure.¹¹ Two patients did not receive ECMO. One was a 49-year-old male who initially had temporary transvenous pacing and was considered for V-A ECMO but unfortunately deteriorated and suffered cardiorespiratory arrest.⁶ Another, a 45-year-old female, was supported with a temporary pacemaker and catecholamines and did survive.¹³

When V-A ECMO is available and can be initiated promptly it provides a bridge to recovery for patients with taxine alkaloid poisoning. Figure 4 details information around the decision-making process of initiating ECMO.¹⁴ In the published literature, 100% of those receiving ECMO survived with full neurological recovery. European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines state that mechanical circulatory support can be appropriate in patients with cardiogenic shock secondary to acute heart failure.¹⁵ Despite this, ECMO is infrequently used in cases of poisoning. A retrospective review of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organisation (ELSO) registry identified just 22 cases of V-A or ‘hybrid’ ECMO for poisoning between 2011 and 2014 with 59% mortality.¹⁶

Figure 4.

Considerations for the decision to initiate extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Conclusion

Our case adds to the literature a further case of yew toxicity successfully supported by V-A ECMO. Key to her survival was prompt initiation of V-A ECMO by a specialist team and transfer to a regional referral centre. We propose that this case supports the need for referral pathways for patients presenting with reversible acute cardiogenic shock.

Lead author biography

Dr Catherine Ward attended medical school at GKT School of Medical Education, King’s College London and subsequently completed her foundation years in London. She is now pursuing a master’s degree in extreme and wilderness medicine while working as a locum junior doctor in emergency medicine.