A Rare Case of Cardiorespiratory Arrest after Metoclopramide Infusion

Introduction

Commonly used as an antiemetic and prokinetic agent, especially in critically-ill patients to reverse gastroparesis and increase in gastric emptying, metoclopramide use can result in important adverse reactions, leading the European Medicines Agency to recommend its use at minimum doses and for a short period of time, due to the risk of neurotoxicity.

Although often associated to neurological events, reactions to this drug affecting the cardiovascular system are less frequent when compared to those that affect the central nervous system. There have been reports of total atrioventricular block and sinus arrest, but the occurrence of metoclopramide-induced cardiorespiratory arrest (CRA) is a rare and poorly described event.

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