Detection of butane gas inhalation at 16 days after hypoxic encephalopathy: A case report

Butane (C4H10), a 4-carbon aliphatic hydrocarbon, is a highly lipid soluble and flammable gas contained in common commercial products including cigarette or charcoal lighter fluid, liquefied petroleum gas, hair spray, aerosol antiperspirants, and anticontagious plugging spray. These items, particularly cigarette lighter refills or cans for portable cooking stoves, are frequently used for inhalation abuse, particularly in young people in Japan [1 –6], as they are easy and cheap to purchase. In the present study, we present a case of sudden cardiopulmonary arrest, who died after 16 days in hospital.

Source: Legal Medicine - October 3, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Takako Sato, Hiroshi Nishioka, Kento Tsuboi, Munehiro Katagi, Akihiro Miki, Takashi Saito, Shuntaro Abe, Masakatsu Nomura, Misa Kitagawa, Hitoshi Tsuchihashi, Koichi Suzuki Tags: Case Report Source Type: research