Suicide by inhalation of butane gas through a homemade adaptation of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) face mask

Autores da FMUP

• Ricardo Jorge Dinis Oliveira

  Autor

Participantes de fora da FMUP

• Durao, C
• Pedrosa, F

Unidades de investigação

• Ciências da Saúde Pública e Forenses, e Educação Médica

Abstract

Fatal poisoning due to butane inhalation has been described in the clinical and forensic literature. We report the first case of a seventy-year-old obese man with a history of sleep apnea and depression, who was found dead in bed after inhaling butane gas through a homemade adaptation of his own continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) face mask. The death scene investigation, autopsy findings and toxicological results are described. The cause of death was suspected to be due to asphyxia through butane inhalation.

Keywords

• Butane; Asphyxia; Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP); Suicide; Forensic autopsy