A case of cyanide poisoning and the use of arterial blood gas analysis to direct therapy.
Cyanide poisoning is a difficult diagnosis for health care professionals. Existing reports clearly demonstrate that the initial diagnosis is often missed in surreptitious cases. The signs and symptoms can mimic numerous other disease processes. We report a case in which a suicidal patient ingested cyanide and was found unresponsive by 2 laboratory coworkers. The coworkers employed cardiopulmonary resuscitation with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The suicidal patient died shortly after arrival to the hospital, while the 2 coworkers who performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation presented with signs and symptoms that mimicked early cyanide toxicity but were instead due to acute stress response. An arterial blood gas analysis may help aid in the diagnosis of cyanide toxicity. Electrocardiographic findings in a patient with cyanide poisoning range significantly, depending on the stage of the poisoning.
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. ch2xf@virginia.edu
Christopher P
CP
Holstege
Joseph D
JD
Forrester
Heather A
HA
Borek
David T
DT
Lawrence
D000328:Adult; D000472:Alkalosis, Respiratory / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000379:methods; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012966:Sodium Cyanide / Q000506:poisoning*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D013405:Suicide
D012966:Sodium Cyanide