Volatile lipophilic substances management in case of fatal sniffing

• Published in: Journal of forensic and legal medicine 2017-11, Vol.52, p.35-39
• Main Authors: Romolo, Francesco Saverio, di Luca, Natale Mario, Ciallella, Costantino, Bottoni, Edoardo, Fiore, Paola Antonella, Cappelletti, Simone, Giuliani, Nicole, Augsburger, Marc, Varlet, Vincent
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - chemistry; Adipose Tissue - pathology; Adult; Blood Chemical Analysis; Brain Chemistry; Butane-propane poisoning; Butanes - analysis; Butanes - poisoning; Cardiac arrhythmia; Forensic Pathology; Forensic Toxicology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Humans; Inhalant Abuse; Kidney - chemistry; Kidney - pathology; Liver - chemistry; Liver - pathology; Lung - chemistry; Lung - pathology; Male; Myocardium - chemistry; Myocardium - pathology; Propane - analysis; Propane - poisoning; Purpura - pathology; Respiratory Mucosa - pathology; Sudden sniffing death syndrome; Vitreous Body - chemistry; Vitreous Body - pathology; Volatile substance abuse
• ISSN: 1752-928X; 1878-7487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2017.08.005

Death due to inhalation of aliphatic hydrocarbons such as butane and propane is a particularly serious problem worldwide, resulting in several fatal cases of sniffing these volatile substances in order to “get high”. Despite the number of cases published, there is not a unique approach to case management of fatal sniffing. In this paper we illustrate the volatile lipophilic substances management in a case of a prisoner died after sniffing a butane-propane gas mixture from prefilled camping stove gas canisters, discussing the comprehensive approach of the crime scene, the autopsy, histology and toxicology. A large set of accurate values of both butane and propane was obtained by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analyzing the following post-mortem biological samples: peripheral blood, heart blood, vitreous humor, liver, lung, heart, brain/cerebral cortex, fat tissue, kidney, and allowed an in depth discussion about the cause of death. A key role is played by following the proper sampling approach during autopsy. •Volatile lipophilic alkanes management after sniffing of camping stove gas canisters is presented.•A large set of biological samples (blood, liver, lung, heart, brain, fat tissue, kidney) is analysed.•Canisters should be always analysed in fatal sniffing case.