Carbamazepine Cardiotoxicity
Carbamazepine Cardiotoxicity Overview
- Massive carbamazepine overdose (>> 50mg/kg) is associated with cardiotoxicity due to fast sodium channel blockade.
- This may be detectable on the ECG as subtle QRS widening or 1st degree AV block.
- The ECG changes are not usually as dramatic as those seen in the context of TCA overdose.
ECG Examples
Example 1a
- This first ECG was taken several hours after massive carbamazepine overdose (150-200 mg/kg), by which time the patient was beginning to manifest clinical signs of cardiotoxicity (hypotension requiring noradrenaline).
- Carbamazepine level around that time was 33 mg/L.
- There is subtle ECG evidence of fast sodium channel blockade: Note the QRS widening (135 ms), 1st degree heart block (PR 240ms) and small secondary R wave in aVR.
Example 1b
- This second ECG was taken several hours after intubation and treatment with hyperventilation (to pH 7.50) and haemofiltration.
- Carbamazepine level is now down to 17 mg/L and haemodynamic instability has resolved.
- Note the QRS duration and PR interval have now normalised, while the secondary R wave in aVR has reduced in amplitude.
Example 2
- This ECG demonstrates more obvious cardiotoxicity following a massive carbamazepine overdose.
- QRS complexes are broad and there is a large R’ wave in aVR.
Related Topics
- Beta-blocker toxicity
- Calcium-channel blocker toxicity
- Quetiapine toxicity
- Tricyclic overdose (sodium-channel blocker toxicity)
Advanced Reading
Online
- Wiesbauer F, Kühn P. ECG Yellow Belt online course: Become an ECG expert. Medmastery
- Wiesbauer F, Kühn P. ECG Blue Belt online course: Learn to diagnose any rhythm problem. Medmastery
- Rawshani A. Clinical ECG Interpretation ECG Waves
- Smith SW. Dr Smith’s ECG blog.
Textbooks
- Mattu A, Tabas JA, Brady WJ. Electrocardiography in Emergency, Acute, and Critical Care. 2e, 2019
- Brady WJ, Lipinski MJ et al. Electrocardiogram in Clinical Medicine. 1e, 2020
- Straus DG, Schocken DD. Marriott’s Practical Electrocardiography 13e, 2021
- Hampton J. The ECG Made Practical 7e, 2019
- Grauer K. ECG Pocket Brain (Expanded) 6e, 2014
- Brady WJ, Truwit JD. Critical Decisions in Emergency and Acute Care Electrocardiography 1e, 2009
- Surawicz B, Knilans T. Chou’s Electrocardiography in Clinical Practice: Adult and Pediatric 6e, 2008
- Mattu A, Brady W. ECG’s for the Emergency Physician Part I 1e, 2003 and Part II
- Chan TC. ECG in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care 1e, 2004
LITFL Further Reading
- ECG Library Basics – Waves, Intervals, Segments and Clinical Interpretation
- ECG A to Z by diagnosis – ECG interpretation in clinical context
- ECG Exigency and Cardiovascular Curveball – ECG Clinical Cases
- 100 ECG Quiz – Self-assessment tool for examination practice
- ECG Reference SITES and BOOKS – the best of the rest
ECG LIBRARY
Electrocardiogram
Emergency Physician in Prehospital and Retrieval Medicine in Sydney, Australia. He has a passion for ECG interpretation and medical education | ECG Library |
MBBS (UWA) CCPU Emergency Medicine Advanced Trainee based in Melbourne, Australia. Co-author of the LITFL ECG Library. Likes Ultrasound, Echo, ECGs, and anything and everything with caffeine. Part of the 2021 ANZCEN Clinician Educator Incubator Programme | @rob_buttner | ECG Library |