In a review of the English literature of fatalities from serotonin syndrome from 1981-2020, which diagnostic criteria, Sternbach’s or the Hunter criteria, were met the most frequently?
Sternbach’s (38/56, 68%) vs Hunter (14/56, 25%) only 8/56 (14%) had clonus documented. Rigidity and spasticity were noted 27% of time for each. Trismus resulted in difficult intubations and immediate death in three patients.
Sanjay Prakash, Chaturbhuj Rathore, Kaushik Rana & Anurag Prakash (2021) Fatal serotonin syndrome: a systematic review of 56 cases in the literature, Clinical Toxicology, 59:2, 89-100, DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2020.1839662
Submitted by: Kirk Cumpston, DO, FAACT
Posted in Question Of The Day