Fatal methadone intoxication in an infant listed as a homicide.

Détails

ID Serval
serval:BIB_0631BE6A0FA6
Type
Article: article d'un périodique ou d'un magazine.
Sous-type
Etude de cas (case report): rapporte une observation et la commente brièvement.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Titre
Fatal methadone intoxication in an infant listed as a homicide.
Périodique
International Journal of Legal Medicine
Auteur⸱e⸱s
Bonsignore A., Groppi A., Ventura F., De Stefano F., Palmiere C.
ISSN
1437-1596 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0937-9827
Statut éditorial
Publié
Date de publication
2016
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
130
Numéro
5
Pages
1231-1235
Langue
anglais
Résumé
Voluntary methadone administration for the purpose of sedation eventually resulting in the infant's death is extremely infrequent, though it has been observed. In this report, we describe an autopsy case pertaining to a 32-month-old infant who was repeatedly exposed to methadone by his parents. Autopsy revealed a coarctation of the aorta with a focal stenosis located at the junction of the distal aortic arch and the descending aorta. Left ventricular hypertrophy was also observed. Both these findings were considered to not have played a role in the child's death. Methadone was detected in the femoral blood (0.633 mg/l), urine (5.25 mg/l), bile (2.64 mg/l), and gastric contents (1.08 mg). A segmental hair analysis showed the presence of methadone and morphine in both the proximal and distal portion of the lock. Methadone was also detected in nail samples. A segmental hair analysis performed on the younger brother of the deceased revealed the presence of methadone and morphine in both the proximal and distal segments, as well as the presence of 6-monoacetylmorphine exclusively in the distal portion. Though the parents denied any involvement in methadone administration or exposure for the purpose of sedation, the manner of death was listed as homicide. The case emphasizes the usefulness of hair analysis to identify threatening situations for the children of drug-dependent parents and possibly support measures by the authorities to recognize and intervene in these potentially fatal situations.
Pubmed
Web of science
Création de la notice
18/11/2015 11:36
Dernière modification de la notice
20/08/2019 12:28
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