A lethal case of "sniffing" from aliphatic hydrocarbons (butane and propane)

The inhalation of substances psicotrope in order to alter the state of conscience (sniffing) is practiced for years burning drugs vegetables like hashish, tobacco and opium. Today, all the hydrocarbonios product under shape of gas, aerosol to temperature ambient and with effect psicotropi, can be object of abuse for the fact that a lot of it be present in product of great consumption; moreover, the low cost and the complete lack of control on the sale, render reason of theirs increasing use between the adolescents and, in the last years, also between the adults pertaining to all the social classes. A 15 year-old boy was founded unresponsive in cardiopulmonary arrest in a public street with one "cylinder" of butane; aid from the 118, came transported to the hospital. He manifested episodes of ventricular fibrillation and respiratory insufficiency. In the night, as a result of unexpected marked, refractory bradycardia and hypotension to every therapy, the patient died. Autopsy findings: cerebral and pulmonary oedema, visceral congestion. On the samples of organ collected in course of autopsy examination has been carry out histological and chemical-toxicological analysis. The toxicological analyses evidenced the existence of butane and propane. Histological examination revealed the presence of cerebral oedema, pulmonary oedema, congestions of organ and contraction band necrosis. The cause of death has been identify in fatal cardiac arrhythmia, as direct toxic effect of aerosol propellants and also documented from the histopathological cardiac findings. In fact the most dangerous toxic action of aerosol propellants is represented from the fibrillation ventricular.