Volume 7, Issue 20 (Spring 2013)                   IJT 2013, 7(20): 831-835 | Back to browse issues page

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1- Department of Anatomic and Forensic Medicine, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. , mnnoli@yahoo.com
2- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology,Niger Delta University, Bayelsa, Nigeria.
3- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Uyo, UyoAkwa-ibom State, Nigeria.
4- Department of Internal Medicine,Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, Nigeria.
Abstract:   (9840 Views)
Background: Cyanide poisoning is frequently lethal, Because of the early onset of severe symptoms and difficulty in the diagnosis. Case: The case was a 29-year-old boy who collapsed suddenly after taking a bottle of beer in a bar. Samples, such as peripheral blood, stomach contents, bile fluid, urine and mouth swabs, were prepared using standard autopsy procedure and were subjected to analysis for cyanide using visible spectrophotometric method. The cyanide contents in samples, included stomach content (260 ppm), bile fluid (272 ppm), blood (256 ppm), and mouth swab (265 ppm). Conclusion: The cause of death was acute myocardial infarction following acute poisoning from ingestion of cyanide salts. Its lethality was related to the rapid onset of toxicity, non-specific nature of the symptoms, and failure to consider the diagnosis. Regarding the absence of pathognomonic symptoms for its toxicity, delay in acquiring a full history and unexplained sudden collapse or acidosis which worsen the prognosis, cyanide intoxication needs to be expeditiously diagnosed and managed.
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Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special

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