A 20-Year-Old Man with a Suicide Attempt Using Helium

Mughal, Deepti; Puri, Madhumita

doi:10.3928/00485713-20160908-01

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Helium is the lightest gas among the noble gases group, historically also named the inert gases, gathering odourless, colorless and monoatomic gases with very low chemical reactivity [1]. The six natural noble gases located in the last raw of the periodic table are Helium (He), Neon (Ne), Argon (Ar), Krypton (Kr), Xenon (Xe) and Radon (Rn).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Helium poisoning: new procedure for sampling and analysis

et al. 2019

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An increasing number of suicidal asphyxiation with a plastic bag with inert gases, and in particular helium (He), have been reported from numerous countries over the last decade. These cases are differently managed and lead to different and variable interpretations. Based on the twelve last cases analysed in the laboratory and on the review of the most recent literature about this topic, updated autopsy guidelines for sampling have been proposed regarding to the samples choice and analytical challenges required by the gaseous state of this substance. Biological samples from airways (lungs lobe) followed by brain and cardiac blood are the best matrices to take during the autopsy to diagnose He exposure. Gaseous samples from trachea, pulmonary bronchi, gastric and cardiac areas are also recommended as alternative samples. The anatomical site of sampling must be carefully detailed, and to this end, forensic imaging constitutes a beneficial tool. Even if He detection is sufficient to conclude to He exposure, He concentrations in samples may be related to He exposure conditions (duration, breathing rate, etc.). A quantification in biological samples could be helpful to document more precisely the case. He concentrations in gaseous samples are reported up to 6.0 µmol/mL (tracheal gas), 2.4 µmol/mL (pulmonary gas), 0.64 µmol/mL (cardiac gas) and 12 µmol/mL (gastric gas). He concentrations in solid/liquid samples are reported up to 28 µmol/g (lungs) and 0.03 µmol/g (cardiac blood). The other matrices usually sampled during autopsy such as urine, peripheral blood, liver, fat matter and kidney appear as not relevant.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%