TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2010//
TI  - Fatal methaemoglobinaemia induced by self-poisoning with sodium nitrite
JO  - Emergency medicine Australasia
A1  - Harvey, Martyn
A1  - Cave, Grant
A1  - Chanwai, Giles
SP  - 463
EP  - 465
VL  - 22
IS  - 5
N2  - Inadvertent ingestion of sodium nitrite is known to precipitate metheamoglobinaemia. No cases exist, however, of intentional suicide by methaemoglobinaemia following self-poisoning with sodium nitrite. A 76-year-old man collapsed and rapidly developed brady-asystolic cardiac arrest 25 min following self-poisoning with an unknown quantity of crystalline sodium nitrite. On arrival in the ED the patient was asystolic with cardiopulmonary resuscitation in progress. Haemoglobin concentration was 110 g/L, arterial methaemoglobin measured 82.6% and serum lactate 9.6 mmol/L. Antioxidative treatment was undertaken with total 5 mg/kg intravenous methylene blue administered in divided aliquots. Despite prolonged resuscitative efforts the patient died. Resuscitation from methaemoglobinaemia-induced asystole following self-poisoning presents a unique therapeutic challenge. Treatment of methaemoglobinaemia-induced cardiovascular instability and overt cardiopulmonary arrest are discussed.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1742-6731
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1742-6723.2010.01335.x
ID  - ref1
ER  -