Document Detail


Death scene gas analysis in suspected methane asphyxia.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  1344637     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Two cases of methane asphyxia occurring in two boys (age 11 and 12 years) who were found at the bottom of a 37-ft (11.1-m)-deep sewer shaft are described. Attempted resuscitation of the first patient was unsuccessful and achieved only temporary stabilization of the second, who died 48 h after his discovery. Autopsies revealed relatively minor multifocal traumatic injuries, with evidence of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in the patient who survived for 2 days. Subsequent analysis of gas in the shaft revealed 21% oxygen at the surface, 14.3% at a depth of 5 ft (1.5 m), and only 4.8% at depths of 10 ft (3 m) and below. Other gases detected at the lower levels were methane, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide (4.3%). These cases demonstrate the value of atmospheric gas analysis in cases of possible methane asphyxia in confirming the presence of methane and in demonstrating levels of oxygen below that necessary to support life.
Authors:
R W Byard; G W Wilson
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Case Reports; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology     Volume:  13     ISSN:  0195-7910     ISO Abbreviation:  Am J Forensic Med Pathol     Publication Date:  1992 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1992-06-17     Completed Date:  1992-06-17     Revised Date:  2011-02-02    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8108948     Medline TA:  Am J Forensic Med Pathol     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  69-71     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Histopathology, Adelaide Children's Hospital, Australia.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Accidental Falls*
Anoxia / etiology,  pathology
Asphyxia / chemically induced*,  pathology
Brain Ischemia / etiology,  pathology
Carbon Dioxide / analysis
Child
Humans
Male
Methane / analysis,  poisoning*
Nitrogen / analysis
Oxygen / analysis
Sewage*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Sewage; 124-38-9/Carbon Dioxide; 74-82-8/Methane; 7727-37-9/Nitrogen; 7782-44-7/Oxygen
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1993 Dec;14(4):350-1   [PMID:  8155165 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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