Forensic science international
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Nitrous oxide is a popular inhalation anesthetic-analgesic agent. Its euphoric action and its availability have led to its abuse. ⋯ The deceased was a hospital worker who had access to the hospital supply of nitrous oxide. His death was due to hypoxemia and asphyxiation, secondary to nitrous oxide inhalation.
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Comment Letter Case Reports
Isolated basilar traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage: an observer's 25 year re-evaluation of the pathogenetic possibilities.
This paper was inspired by Leadbeatter's recent review [1] on the subject, and consists primarily of a recapitulation of this author's observations in the 25 years since publication of his paper [2] describing three cases of traumatic basilar subarachnoid hemorrhage resulting from direct trauma to the upper lateral neck. Those observations include personal experience and case reports personally communicated or published. Leadbeatter's analysis makes the following three salient points to which the author considers a response to be appropriate: 1. ⋯ Accordingly, empirical factors have to be considered for a diagnosis in most cases. Four diagnostic criteria have been established for a firm conclusion of death due to traumatic basilar subarachnoid hemorrhage. 3. While over half of traumatic basilar subarachnoid hemorrhages involve a completely different site of trauma, and many indirect mechanisms of injury may come into play, the author still considers that in the commonly observed syndrome as described by him in 1971, direct trauma to the vertebral artery is the primary causative factor.