title: An incident of hydrogen cyanide poisoning.
abstract: Seven cases of hydrogen cyanide gas poisoning which occurred in an industrial building in Hong Kong are presented here. Two of them were more severely injured and required specific antidotal treatment. The other five were mild and responded to supportive treatment alone. All except one patient recovered completely. Cyanide poisoning is relatively uncommon in urbanized area, so high index of suspicion is important for early diagnosis and treatment. We believe that prevention of cyanide poisoning can be achieved by proper storage of chemicals, and by enforcing rescuers to wear special chemical protective clothing to avoid systemic poisoning because of dermal absorption of hydrogen cyanide gas. As there are newer and safer cyanide antidotes available, each emergency department should have a stock of updated products such as hydroxocobalamin.
authors.affiliation: Accident and Emergency Department, United Christian Hospital, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002617:Chemical Industry; D003666:Decontamination; D004356:Drug Storage; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide / Q000506:poisoning*; D006879:Hydroxocobalamin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009566:Nitrates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D000439:Pentanols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011041:Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011481:Protective Clothing
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D009566:Nitrates; D000439:Pentanols; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide; D006879:Hydroxocobalamin; C036285:amyl nitrate