Death caused by addictive inhalation of nitrous oxide. 2011

Barbara Potocka-Banas, and Slawomir Majdanik, and Grazyna Dutkiewicz, and Krzysztof Borowiak, and Tomasz Janus
Department of Forensic Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland. potoxb@o2.pl

Intoxications with nitrous oxide have been, and still are, a rarity in forensic medicine. Apart from accidental overdose during hospital procedures, intoxication with this gas is the result of voluntary inhalation. We report the fatal case of a 32-year-old male who died during inhalation of nitrous oxide from whipped dairy cream cans and hint on the role of the internet in creating new behaviors among drug addicts. We rely on the autopsy report from the Department of Forensic Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, on laboratory tests, and court files. Neither the autopsy nor the toxicologic and histopathologic tests disclosed the exact cause of death. However, circumstances in which the body was discovered were indicative that death resulted from cardiorespiratory failure. The present case is interesting with regard to its rarity, diagnostic difficulties and potential harm from nitrous oxide used by the food industry.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009609 Nitrous Oxide Nitrogen oxide (N2O). A colorless, odorless gas that is used as an anesthetic and analgesic. High concentrations cause a narcotic effect and may replace oxygen, causing death by asphyxia. It is also used as a food aerosol in the preparation of whipping cream. Laughing Gas,Nitrogen Protoxide,Gas, Laughing,Oxide, Nitrous
D003611 Dairy Products Raw and processed or manufactured milk and milk-derived products. These are usually from cows (bovine) but are also from goats, sheep, reindeer, and water buffalo. Dairy Product,Product, Dairy,Products, Dairy
D005503 Food Additives Substances used in the processing or storage of foods or animal feed including ANTIOXIDANTS; FOOD PRESERVATIVES; FOOD COLORING AGENTS; FLAVORING AGENTS; ANTI-INFECTIVE AGENTS; EXCIPIENTS and other similarly used substances. Many of the same substances are used as PHARMACEUTIC AIDS. Additive, Food,Additives, Food,Food Additive
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000280 Administration, Inhalation The administration of drugs by the respiratory route. It includes insufflation into the respiratory tract. Drug Administration, Inhalation,Drug Administration, Respiratory,Drug Aerosol Therapy,Inhalation Drug Administration,Inhalation of Drugs,Respiratory Drug Administration,Aerosol Drug Therapy,Aerosol Therapy, Drug,Drug Therapy, Aerosol,Inhalation Administration,Administration, Inhalation Drug,Administration, Respiratory Drug,Therapy, Aerosol Drug,Therapy, Drug Aerosol
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D017809 Fatal Outcome Death resulting from the presence of a disease in an individual, as shown by a single case report or a limited number of patients. This should be differentiated from DEATH, the physiological cessation of life and from MORTALITY, an epidemiological or statistical concept. Fatal Outcomes,Outcome, Fatal,Outcomes, Fatal
D018712 Analgesics, Non-Narcotic A subclass of analgesic agents that typically do not bind to OPIOID RECEPTORS and are not addictive. Many non-narcotic analgesics are offered as NONPRESCRIPTION DRUGS. Non Opioid Analgesic,Non-Opioid Analgesic,Nonopioid Analgesic,Nonopioid Analgesics,Analgesics, Nonnarcotic,Analgesics, Nonopioid,Non-Opioid Analgesics,Analgesic, Non Opioid,Analgesic, Non-Opioid,Analgesic, Nonopioid,Analgesics, Non Narcotic,Analgesics, Non-Opioid,Non Opioid Analgesics,Non-Narcotic Analgesics,Nonnarcotic Analgesics,Opioid Analgesic, Non
D062787 Drug Overdose Accidental or deliberate use of a medication or street drug in excess of normal dosage. Drug Overdoses,Overdose, Drug,Overdoses, Drug

Related Publications

Barbara Potocka-Banas, and Slawomir Majdanik, and Grazyna Dutkiewicz, and Krzysztof Borowiak, and Tomasz Janus
May 1995, Forensic science international,
Barbara Potocka-Banas, and Slawomir Majdanik, and Grazyna Dutkiewicz, and Krzysztof Borowiak, and Tomasz Janus
April 1873, The American journal of dental science,
Barbara Potocka-Banas, and Slawomir Majdanik, and Grazyna Dutkiewicz, and Krzysztof Borowiak, and Tomasz Janus
May 1872, The American journal of dental science,
Barbara Potocka-Banas, and Slawomir Majdanik, and Grazyna Dutkiewicz, and Krzysztof Borowiak, and Tomasz Janus
August 1847, Illinois and Indiana medical and surgical journal,
Barbara Potocka-Banas, and Slawomir Majdanik, and Grazyna Dutkiewicz, and Krzysztof Borowiak, and Tomasz Janus
August 1994, South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde,
Barbara Potocka-Banas, and Slawomir Majdanik, and Grazyna Dutkiewicz, and Krzysztof Borowiak, and Tomasz Janus
August 1994, South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde,
Barbara Potocka-Banas, and Slawomir Majdanik, and Grazyna Dutkiewicz, and Krzysztof Borowiak, and Tomasz Janus
January 1956, Annales de medecine legale, criminologie, police scientifique et toxicologie,
Barbara Potocka-Banas, and Slawomir Majdanik, and Grazyna Dutkiewicz, and Krzysztof Borowiak, and Tomasz Janus
October 1984, Annals of emergency medicine,
Barbara Potocka-Banas, and Slawomir Majdanik, and Grazyna Dutkiewicz, and Krzysztof Borowiak, and Tomasz Janus
September 2017, Forensic science, medicine, and pathology,
Barbara Potocka-Banas, and Slawomir Majdanik, and Grazyna Dutkiewicz, and Krzysztof Borowiak, and Tomasz Janus
February 1989, South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde,
Copied contents to your clipboard!