title: Two cases of acute propane/butane poisoning in prison.
abstract: Hydrocarbon inhalation is seldom chosen as a means to commit suicide. This practice is exclusively a prerogative of the prison population; it is, however, only exceptionally found in this environment. The two cases of lethal inhalation of propane/butane gas observed by us over a very short time occurred in this context. Toxicologic analyses were performed by means of gas chromatography (head space) and revealed a propane/butane mixture in all specimens (heart blood, bile, and urine) except vitreous humor. Although fatal arrhythmia posthydrocarbon gas abuse is well known, the concentrations of the two hydrocarbons were sufficient to induce death by asphyxiation and were distributed (fairly) homogeneously in all biological fluids and organs examined, a parameter permitting one to assume that death occurred within a relatively short period of time. The absence of finding in vitreous humor and the trace amount in urine suggests that both men died very quickly.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo F. Vito, 1, 00168 Rome, Italy. riccardo.rossi@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Suadoni
authors.forename: Ludovica
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pieroni
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De-Giorgio
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lancia
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D001646:Bile / Q000737:chemistry; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000473:pathology; D002073:Butanes / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners; D011407:Propane / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000473:pathology; D013405:Suicide
chemical_list: D002073:Butanes; C046888:butane; D011407:Propane