PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Purkayastha, S AU - Bhangoo, P AU - Athanasiou, T AU - Casula, R AU - Glenville, B AU - Darzi, A W AU - Henry, J A TI - Treatment of poisoning induced cardiac impairment using cardiopulmonary bypass: a review AID - 10.1136/emj.2005.028605 DP - 2006 Apr 01 TA - Emergency Medicine Journal PG - 246--250 VI - 23 IP - 4 4099 - http://emj.bmj.com/content/23/4/246.short 4100 - http://emj.bmj.com/content/23/4/246.full SO - Emerg Med J2006 Apr 01; 23 AB - Severe poisoning can cause potentially fatal cardiac depression. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) can support the depressed myocardium, but there are no clear indications or guidelines available on its use in severe poisoning. A review was conducted of relevant papers in the available literature (seven single case reports of both deliberate and accidental ingestion of cardiotoxic drugs and two animal studies). Although CPB is rarely used in the management of poisoning, it may have potential benefits for haemodynamic instability not responding to conventional measures. At present there is insufficient evidence concerning the use of CPB as a treatment for severe cardiac impairment due to poisoning (grade C). This review suggests that in patients with severe and potentially prolonged reversible cardiotoxicity there is potential for full survival with CPB, provided that the patient has not already sustained hypoxic cerebral damage due to resistant hypotension prior to its use.