Elsevier

Resuscitation

Volume 37, Issue 1, 1 April 1998, Pages 43-45
Resuscitation

Case report
Ventricular fibrillation following butane gas inhalation

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0300-9572(98)00030-6Get rights and content

Abstract

We report a case of out of hospital defibrillation in a 15-year-old schoolgirl who developed ventricular fibrillation (VF) in association with butane gas inhalation. Although defibrillation performed by an attending paramedic was successful in restoring a cardiac output, her clinical course was complicated by severe neurological impairment. Reports of successful resuscitation following volatile substance abuse are rare and we believe this is the first documented evidence of VF associated with butane gas. This case illustrates the tragedy of such abuse in fit young people and we briefly review the literature.

Section snippets

Case report

A 15-year-old healthy school girl was persuaded by peers to try inhaling the contents of a butane gas lighter refill can for the first time. They found a secluded place near a riverbank and the girl began to inhale the contents by direct release into her mouth. Over a 2 h period of intermittent inhalation she was noticed by her peers to be giggling and staggering. Immediately after a final inhalation they were observed by two passing police officers. The group began running away and after a

Discussion

Death from volatile substance abuse (VSA) is one of the leading causes of death in those under 18 years. At age 15, 10% of all deaths and ≈20% of deaths from accidents, violence and poisoning are due to VSA, making it the leading cause of death. This amounts to ≈100 deaths per year. Experimentation may have occurred in 3.5–10% of teenagers and 0.5–1% were regular abusers. The vast majority are male (90%). The largest number of deaths were attributable to butane gas cigarette lighter fluid

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