Citation

Pufal E, Sykutera M, Rochholz G, Śliwka K. Prob. Forensic Sci. 2007; 72: 450-457.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Institute of Forensic Research Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Due to a series of fatal accidents and one case of suicidal intoxication, a method for detection and identification of pancuronium in blood, urine, stomach contents and liver, kidney, and brain tissues was developed. The question which had to be answered was how long after death it was possible to identify pancuronium in biological material. In the case of the suicidal intoxication with pancuronium, biological material samples were sent to the Department of Forensic Medicine in Bydgoszcz two months after the autopsy. Isolation of pancuronium from biological material was performed by using ion pair extraction, and then the LC-ESI-MS method was applied. The concentration of pancuronium in these samples was lower than the fatal concentration, therefore the question raised was whether the fact that the samples had been stored in a refrigerator for two months influenced the Pancuronium concentration. In addition, all biological material samples and extracts were analysed again after 8 months' storage in a refrigeraor. Furthermore, the biological material was lyophilised and stored in a refrigerator prior to ion pair extraction. The storage of methanol extracts at a temperature of +4°C caused a reduction in pancuronium concentration. A significant loss of Pancuronium was observed in both biological material and lyophilised material. © by the Institute of Forensic Research.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; suicide; female; brain; autopsy; case report; nurse; article; drug intoxication; liquid chromatography; drug blood level; drug urine level; stomach; analytic method; kidney; liver; tissue distribution; ion pair extraction; Pancuronium; pancuronium bromide; extraction; electrospray mass spectrometry; body fluid; LC-MS; freeze drying; Ionpair extraction; Postmortem material; tissue preservation