Fatality Following Intentional Ingestion of Cerbera odollam Seeds

Fatality Following Intentional Ingestion of Cerbera odollam Seeds

Seeds from the mangrove plant Cerbera (C.) odollam, known as the “suicide tree,” are responsible for a significant number of plant deaths worldwide but are not well recognized in Western medicine. Cerberin is a cardiac glycoside concentrated in the plant’s seeds, which causes disrupted cardiac elect...

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Main Authors: Ryan Misek, Glenn Allen, Valerie LeComte, Nicholas Mazur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: eScholarship Publishing, University of California 2018-08-01
Series:Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine
Online Access:https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1gz3g513
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spelling doaj-8425b398f8c94f868ed5ab91076b7fab2020-11-25T02:04:39ZengeScholarship Publishing, University of CaliforniaClinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine2474-252X2018-08-012310.5811/cpcem.2018.5.38345cpcem-02-223Fatality Following Intentional Ingestion of Cerbera odollam SeedsRyan Misek0Glenn Allen1Valerie LeComte2Nicholas Mazur3Midwestern University, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Downers Grove, IllinoisFranciscan Health Hammond, Emergency Department Pharmacy, Hammond, IndianaMidwestern University, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Downers Grove, IllinoisFranciscan Health Hammond, Emergency Department Pharmacy, Hammond, IndianaSeeds from the mangrove plant Cerbera (C.) odollam, known as the “suicide tree,” are responsible for a significant number of plant deaths worldwide but are not well recognized in Western medicine. Cerberin is a cardiac glycoside concentrated in the plant’s seeds, which causes disrupted cardiac electrical activity leading to fatal dysrhythmias. We present a fatal case of intentional C. odollam seed ingestion. The patient experienced high-degree heart block and cardiac arrest despite supportive treatment and digoxin immune fab administration. Clinicians should be aware of the potential morbidity and mortality associated with C. odollam poisoning and be prepared for resuscitative interventions.https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1gz3g513
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Ryan Misek
Glenn Allen
Valerie LeComte
Nicholas Mazur
spellingShingle Ryan Misek
Glenn Allen
Valerie LeComte
Nicholas Mazur
Fatality Following Intentional Ingestion of Cerbera odollam Seeds
Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine
author_facet Ryan Misek
Glenn Allen
Valerie LeComte
Nicholas Mazur
author_sort Ryan Misek
title Fatality Following Intentional Ingestion of Cerbera odollam Seeds
title_short Fatality Following Intentional Ingestion of Cerbera odollam Seeds
title_full Fatality Following Intentional Ingestion of Cerbera odollam Seeds
title_fullStr Fatality Following Intentional Ingestion of Cerbera odollam Seeds
title_full_unstemmed Fatality Following Intentional Ingestion of Cerbera odollam Seeds
title_sort fatality following intentional ingestion of cerbera odollam seeds
publisher eScholarship Publishing, University of California
series Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine
issn 2474-252X
publishDate 2018-08-01
description Seeds from the mangrove plant Cerbera (C.) odollam, known as the “suicide tree,” are responsible for a significant number of plant deaths worldwide but are not well recognized in Western medicine. Cerberin is a cardiac glycoside concentrated in the plant’s seeds, which causes disrupted cardiac electrical activity leading to fatal dysrhythmias. We present a fatal case of intentional C. odollam seed ingestion. The patient experienced high-degree heart block and cardiac arrest despite supportive treatment and digoxin immune fab administration. Clinicians should be aware of the potential morbidity and mortality associated with C. odollam poisoning and be prepared for resuscitative interventions.
url https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1gz3g513
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AT glennallen fatalityfollowingintentionalingestionofcerberaodollamseeds
AT valerielecomte fatalityfollowingintentionalingestionofcerberaodollamseeds
AT nicholasmazur fatalityfollowingintentionalingestionofcerberaodollamseeds
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