A case of suicide by self-injection of adrenaline.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_94AC085DEA11
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Publication sub-type
Case report (case report): feedback on an observation with a short commentary.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
A case of suicide by self-injection of adrenaline.
Journal
Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology
Author(s)
Palmiere C., Bévalot F., Malicier D., Grouzmann E., Fracasso T., Fanton L.
ISSN
1556-2891 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
1547-769X
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2015
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
11
Number
3
Pages
421-426
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Case Reports ; Journal Article
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Adrenaline (epinephrine) auto-injectors provide life-saving pre-hospital treatment for individuals experiencing anaphylaxis in a community setting. Errors in handling adrenaline auto-injectors, particularly by children and healthcare professionals, have been reported. Reports of adrenaline overdoses are limited in the medical literature. In most of these cases, accidental adrenaline administration results from medical error. Exogenous administration of catecholamine is responsible for cardiovascular and metabolic responses, which may cause supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular dysrhythmias and myocardial ischemia. The authors present a unique autopsy case involving a 34 year-old woman who intentionally self-injected adrenaline using an adrenaline auto-injector as part of a suicide plan. Catecholamines and metanephrines were measured in peripheral and cardiac blood as well as urine and vitreous humor. Based on the results of all postmortem investigations, the cause of death was determined to be cardiac dysrhythmia and cardiac arrest following adrenaline self-injection.
Keywords
Adult, Arrhythmias, Cardiac/chemically induced, Catecholamines/analysis, Epinephrine/administration & dosage, Epinephrine/adverse effects, Female, Heart Arrest/chemically induced, Humans, Injections, Intramuscular, Suicide, Sympathomimetics/administration & dosage, Sympathomimetics/adverse effects, Vitreous Body/chemistry
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
05/08/2015 8:39
Last modification date
20/08/2019 15:57
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