Skip to main content
Journal of Accident & Emergency Medicine logoLink to Journal of Accident & Emergency Medicine
. 1997 Sep;14(5):339–340. doi: 10.1136/emj.14.5.339

Saturday night blue--a case of near fatal poisoning from the abuse of amyl nitrite.

T Stambach 1, K Haire 1, N Soni 1, J Booth 1
PMCID: PMC1343108  PMID: 9315944

Abstract

A case of severe methaemoglobinaemia caused by the abuse of volatile nitrites is reported. The agents are commonly abused, but this complication is rare. The clinical presentation can make diagnosis difficult; however, the subsequent treatment needs to be rapid to avoid serious morbidity or mortality. This report presents the clinical picture and the background information leading to the detection and treatment of this unusual problem.

Full text

PDF
339

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bradberry S. M., Whittington R. M., Parry D. A., Vale J. A. Fatal methemoglobinemia due to inhalation of isobutyl nitrite. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 1994;32(2):179–184. doi: 10.3109/15563659409000448. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Fisher A. A., Brancaccio R. R., Jelinek J. E. Facial dermatitis in men due to inhalation of butyl nitrite. Cutis. 1981 Feb;27(2):146, 152-3. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Haley T. J. Review of the physiological effects of amyl, butyl, and isobutyl nitrites. Clin Toxicol. 1980 May;16(3):317–329. doi: 10.3109/15563658008989955. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Hall A. H., Kulig K. W., Rumack B. H. Drug- and chemical-induced methaemoglobinaemia. Clinical features and management. Med Toxicol. 1986 Jul-Aug;1(4):253–260. doi: 10.1007/BF03259842. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Machabert R., Testud F., Descotes J. Methaemoglobinaemia due to amyl nitrite inhalation: a case report. Hum Exp Toxicol. 1994 May;13(5):313–314. doi: 10.1177/096032719401300505. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. O'Toole J. B., 3rd, Robbins G. B., Dixon D. S. Ingestion of isobutyl nitrite, a recreational chemical of abuse, causing fatal methemoglobinemia. J Forensic Sci. 1987 Nov;32(6):1811–1812. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Rieder H. U., Frei F. J., Zbinden A. M., Thomson D. A. Pulse oximetry in methaemoglobinaemia. Failure to detect low oxygen saturation. Anaesthesia. 1989 Apr;44(4):326–327. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1989.tb11288.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Tremper K. K., Barker S. J. Pulse oximetry. Anesthesiology. 1989 Jan;70(1):98–108. doi: 10.1097/00000542-198901000-00019. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Accident & Emergency Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES