Korean J Leg Med.  2017 Aug;41(3):83-85. 10.7580/kjlm.2017.41.3.83.

Death Related to Nitrous Oxide Abuse: Two Cases Report

• Kim JM
• Choi M
• Kim HN
• Kim HJ
• Baek T
• Choi M
• Ha H

• KMID: 2389519
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7580/kjlm.2017.41.3.83

Abstract

Nitrous oxide is medically used as an anesthetic gas and as an additive in whipped cream production. Few cases of death from nitrous oxide intoxication have been reported in Korea. However, fatalities due to inhalation of pure nitrous oxide in an amount enough to cause death have been recently increasing. We report two cases of death related to nitrous oxide abuse with a review of literature focusing on the fact that nitrous oxide abuse can be considered as a possible cause of death if appliances with nitrous oxide contents were found during the investigation, and the autopsy and toxicological findings cannot be attributed to nitrous oxide intoxication.

Keyword

Nitrous oxide; Inhalant abuse; Death; Autopsy; Toxicology

MeSH Terms

Autopsy
Cause of Death
Inhalant Abuse
Inhalation
Korea
Nitrous Oxide*
Toxicology
Nitrous Oxide

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