Survivor from asphyxiation due to helium inhalation


Submitted: 21 October 2015
Accepted: 7 June 2016
Published: 15 June 2016
Abstract Views: 6822
PDF: 1070
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Authors

  • Massimiliano Etteri Emergency Department, Sant’Anna Hospital, San Fermo della Battaglia (CO), Italy.
  • Andrea Bellone Emergency Department, Sant’Anna Hospital, San Fermo della Battaglia (CO), Italy.
  • Morena Vella Emergency Department, Sant’Anna Hospital, San Fermo della Battaglia (CO), Italy.
  • Eleonora Capiaghi Emergency Department, Sant’Anna Hospital, San Fermo della Battaglia (CO), Italy.
  • Luca Motta Emergency Department, Sant’Anna Hospital, San Fermo della Battaglia (CO), Italy.
  • Ilaria Malfasi Emergency Department, Sant’Anna Hospital, San Fermo della Battaglia (CO), Italy.
In this rare case report we describe a 27- year-old white man survived to suicide by asphyxiation using the so-called suicide bag (or exit bag) filled with helium supplied through a plastic tube. He had no previous psychiatric or organic illnesses. At the time of presentation to our Emergency Department he was awake and reported severe dyspnea with a clinical pattern of acute respiratory failure. Imaging studies showed pulmonary edema and the patient was treated with non-invasive ventilation in Intensive Care Unit. After 15 days the patient was discharged from hospital in optimal conditions. These rare cases of survivor might suggest the possible causes of death from inhaling helium.

Etteri, M., Bellone, A., Vella, M., Capiaghi, E., Motta, L., & Malfasi, I. (2016). Survivor from asphyxiation due to helium inhalation. Emergency Care Journal, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/ecj.2016.5597

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