THE STROKE THAT WASN’T- A CASE OF CLINICAL MIMICRY FROM WOLFSBANE TOXICITY
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Abstract
Historically infamous for its pernicious toxins - Aconitum also known as Wolfsbane, Devil’s Helmet and Monkshood is a common ingredient in Ayurveda where it is known as महाविषा mahavisha (“great poison”) or वत्सनाभ vatsanabha ("root resembling the navel of a child") and is used in small quantities after undergoing a lengthy process of detoxification.
We present to you a case of Aconitum toxicity initially diagnosed at a primary care facility as a cerebrovascular accident and referred for tertiary centre care to our emergency department where the patient was promptly diagnosed, stabilized, treated and eventually discharged owing to a multidisciplinary collective effort by physicians belonging to the departments of Emergency Medicine, Critical Care Medicine & Cardiac Sciences.
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[Fig 1] Aconitum napellus (Blauer Eisenhut). Chromolithographic botanical plate (Plate 72) from Köhler’s Medizinal-Pflanzen in naturgetreuen Abbildungen (Vol. 1, 1887). Reproduced from Köhler (1887). Public domain. Image source: Biodiversity Heritage Library / Wikimedia Commons.
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Dr. Suvasish Chakraberty
Dr. Suvasish Chakraberty, Chief & Head of Department, Department of Emergency Medicine & Urgent Care, Artemis Hospital, Gurugram, Delhi NCR, India.
Dr. Feraz Nawaz
Dr. Feraz Nawaz, Attending Consultant, Department of Emergency Medicine & Urgent Care, Artemis Hospital, Gurugram, Delhi NCR, India.
Dr. Judith Mattakkal Jose
Dr. Judith Mattakkal Jose, Attending Consultant, Department of Emergency Medicine & Urgent Care, Artemis Hospital, Gurugram, Delhi NCR, India.
Dr. Mayank Butola
Dr. Mayank Butola, 2nd Yr Dr.N.B. Resident, Department of Interventional Cardiology & Cardiac Sciences, Artemis Hospital, Gurugram, Delhi NCR, India
Dr. Mannat Narang
Dr. Mannat Narang, 2nd Yr Dr.N.B. Resident, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Artemis Hospital, Gurugram, Delhi NCR, India