Journal List > Korean J Leg Med > v.41(3) > 1088023

Kim, Choi, Kim, Kim, Baek, Choi, and Ha: Death Related to Nitrous Oxide Abuse: Two Cases Report

Abstract

Nitrous oxide is medically used as an anesthetic gas and as an additive in whipped cream production. Few cases of death from nitrous oxide intoxication have been reported in Korea. However, fatalities due to inhalation of pure nitrous oxide in an amount enough to cause death have been recently increasing. We report two cases of death related to nitrous oxide abuse with a review of literature focusing on the fact that nitrous oxide abuse can be considered as a possible cause of death if appliances with nitrous oxide contents were found during the investigation, and the autopsy and toxicological findings cannot be attributed to nitrous oxide intoxication.

Notes

Conflicts of Interest No potential conflict of interest to this article was reported.

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