Author: Harriet Davis / Editor: Sarah Edwards / Codes: / Published: 27/11/2025
A female patient in her 50s’ presents to the Emergency Department (ED) at 8:00am following ingestion of tea brewed with yew tree leaves at approximately 3:30am. Her partner found her at 7:20am drowsy but rousable.
On arrival to the ED, she begins vomiting. When placed on a cardiac monitor the following is seen:
She has intermittent pulsed monomorphic VT and polymorphic VT. During these episodes she becomes haemodynamically unstable and experiences urinary and faecal incontinence.
When in sinus rhythm her ECG shows broad QRS complexes and a prolonged QTc.
