A teenager with angiographically normal epicardial coronary arteries and acute myocardial infarction after butane inhalation

Abstract

The most common cause of death among volatile substance abusers is sudden cardiac death. To the best of our knowledge, butane-induced myocardial infarction is a rare presentation among teenagers. We report on a 14-year-old male student who sustained cardiopulmonary arrest after sniffing seven canisters of butane. He was found to have extensive anterior myocardial infarction complicated by ventricular fibrillation. Cardiac catheterization revealed patent coronary arteries with severe anterolateral and apical left ventricular wall hypokinesia. We assume that cardiac complications after butane inhalations may partly be secondary to intense coronary artery spasm on the basis of the clinical and laboratory findings. This assumption may have major therapeutic implications in this patient population.

Variability in cardiovascular functions and baroflex sensitivity following inhalation of petroleum hydrocarbons

“…It is noteworthy that petroleum hydrocarbons are risk factors of cardiovascular dysfunctions,[18–22] which are major challenges among refinery workers, inhalant abusers, and the general population at large since they form an essential component of life, thus accounting for clinical complications leading to increased mortality. [1623] The severity of cardiovascular implications associated with petroleum products inhalation may be related to the different components of the various petroleum products.…”

Item Response Theory Analysis of DSM-IV Criteria for Inhalant-Use Disorders in Adolescents

“…They disproportionately affl ict vulnerable subpopulations, including the poor, select minority groups, the mentally ill, and persons involved with the juvenile and criminal justice systems (Mackesy-Amiti and Fendrich, 1999;McBride et al, 1991). Inhalants can lead to "sudden sniffi ng death" and serious accidents (El-Menyar et al, 2005;Pfeiffer et al, 2006).…”

Cardiac arrest following butane inhalation

“…El-Menyar et al ., reported a 14-year-old male sniffing 7 canisters of butane before cardiac arrest. [ 7 ] After reviewing some other case reports, they suggest that cardiac failure after butane inhalation may involve coronary artery spasm. We do not know whether this was the case for our patient because we did not perform cardiac catheterization.…”