title: Medico legal investigations into sudden sniffing deaths linked with trichloroethylene.
abstract: Sudden deaths attributed to sniffing trichloroethylene are caused by the abuse of this solvent which produces pleasant inebriating effects with rapid dissipation. In the event of repeated cycles of inhalation, a dangerous and uncontrolled systemic accumulation of trichloroethylene may occur, followed by central nervous system depression, coma and lethal cardiorespiratory arrest. Sometimes death occurs outside the hospital environment, without medical intervention or witnesses and without specific necroscopic signs. Medico legal investigations into sudden sniffing deaths associated with trichloroethylene demand careful analysis of the death scene and related circumstances, a detailed understanding of the deceased's medical history and background of substance abuse and an accurate evaluation of all autopsy and laboratory data, with close cooperation between the judiciary, coroners and toxicologists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Biological Sciences - Forensic Medicine, University of Udine, Italy. Electronic address: ugo.dabroi@uniud.it.
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Da Broi
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine - Clinical Pathology, S. Maria Misericordia General Hospital, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colatutto
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine - Clinical Pathology, S. Maria Misericordia General Hospital, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierguido
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine - Forensic Medicine, University of Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Desinan
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003329:Coronary Vasospasm / Q000139:chemically induced; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D058545:Inhalant Abuse / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012997:Solvents / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D013048:Specimen Handling; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D014241:Trichloroethylene / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D012997:Solvents; D014241:Trichloroethylene
keywords: Sudden sniffing death; Trichloroethylene; Volatile substance abuse