Death after excessive propofol abuse.
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Death after excessive propofol abuse. / Iwersen-Bergmann, Stefanie; Rösner, P; Kühnau, H C; Junge, M; Schmoldt, A.
In: INT J LEGAL MED, Vol. 114, No. 4-5, 4-5, 2001, p. 248-251.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Death after excessive propofol abuse.
AU - Iwersen-Bergmann, Stefanie
AU - Rösner, P
AU - Kühnau, H C
AU - Junge, M
AU - Schmoldt, A
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Abuse of the anaesthetic agent propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) is rare, but we report a case of a 26-year-old male nurse in which the autopsy showed unspecific signs of intoxication and criminological evidence pointed towards propofol abuse and/or overdose. Intravenously administered propofol is a fast and short-acting narcotic agent, therefore it seemed questionable whether the deceased would have been able to self-administer a lethal overdose before losing consciousness. The blood and brain concentrations corresponded to those found 1-2 min after bolus administration of a narcotic standard dose of 2.5 mg propofol/kg body weight. Extremely high propofol concentrations were found in the urine indicating excessive abuse before death. However, due to the short half-life of propofol, the cumulative effects of repeated injections should not be relevant for toxicity, since this would result in a blood level increase of only 1-2 micrograms/ml. Furthermore, the detection and quantitation of propofol in three different hair segments indicated chronic propofol abuse by the deceased. The results of the investigation suggest that death was not caused by a propofol overdose but by respiratory depression resulting from overly rapid injection.
AB - Abuse of the anaesthetic agent propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) is rare, but we report a case of a 26-year-old male nurse in which the autopsy showed unspecific signs of intoxication and criminological evidence pointed towards propofol abuse and/or overdose. Intravenously administered propofol is a fast and short-acting narcotic agent, therefore it seemed questionable whether the deceased would have been able to self-administer a lethal overdose before losing consciousness. The blood and brain concentrations corresponded to those found 1-2 min after bolus administration of a narcotic standard dose of 2.5 mg propofol/kg body weight. Extremely high propofol concentrations were found in the urine indicating excessive abuse before death. However, due to the short half-life of propofol, the cumulative effects of repeated injections should not be relevant for toxicity, since this would result in a blood level increase of only 1-2 micrograms/ml. Furthermore, the detection and quantitation of propofol in three different hair segments indicated chronic propofol abuse by the deceased. The results of the investigation suggest that death was not caused by a propofol overdose but by respiratory depression resulting from overly rapid injection.
KW - Adult
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Reference Standards
KW - Autopsy/methods
KW - Anesthetics, Intravenous/poisoning
KW - Drug Overdose/pathology
KW - Propofol/poisoning
KW - Substance Abuse, Intravenous/pathology
KW - Adult
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Reference Standards
KW - Autopsy/methods
KW - Anesthetics, Intravenous/poisoning
KW - Drug Overdose/pathology
KW - Propofol/poisoning
KW - Substance Abuse, Intravenous/pathology
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
VL - 114
SP - 248
EP - 251
JO - INT J LEGAL MED
JF - INT J LEGAL MED
SN - 0937-9827
IS - 4-5
M1 - 4-5
ER -
