SEVERE ACUTE BUFLOMEDIL INTOXICATION

The severity of the acute intoxication from buflomedil, a vasodilator with papaverinic and alpha-adrenolytic effects, remains generally unde restimated. We report the case of a 18-year-old girl who ingested a hi gh amount of buflomedil. Two hours later, she developed seizures and v entricular arrhythmias. On admission to the ICU, she was in circulator y arrest followed by deep coma with mydriasis (GCS = 3). Buflomedil bl ood concentration, 2 hours after admission, was 97.3 mg . L-l. Toxicol ogical screening for other drugs was negative. Therapy included extern al chest compressions tracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, epi nephrine and gastric lavage. The haemodynamic status improved within t he first 24 h, although she remained comatose until the fifth day. She was discharged the eight day after her admission. This observation de monstrates that the potential severity of buflomedil poisoning is main ly due to early cardiac complications. Treatment remains purely suppor tive.