Citation

Holstege CP, Forrester JD, Borek HA, Lawrence DT. Hosp. Pract. (1995) 2010; 38(4): 69-74.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, JTE Multimedia)

DOI

10.3810/hp.2010.11.342

PMID

21068529

Abstract

Cyanide poisoning is a difficult diagnosis for health care professionals. Existing reports clearly demonstrate that the initial diagnosis is often missed in surreptitious cases. The signs and symptoms can mimic numerous other disease processes. We report a case in which a suicidal patient ingested cyanide and was found unresponsive by 2 laboratory coworkers. The coworkers employed cardiopulmonary resuscitation with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The suicidal patient died shortly after arrival to the hospital, while the 2 coworkers who performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation presented with signs and symptoms that mimicked early cyanide toxicity but were instead due to acute stress response. An arterial blood gas analysis may help aid in the diagnosis of cyanide toxicity. Electrocardiographic findings in a patient with cyanide poisoning range significantly, depending on the stage of the poisoning.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Risk Factors; Adult; Male; Middle Aged; Suicide; Emergency Treatment; Poisoning; Fatal Outcome; Emergency Medicine; Diagnosis, Differential; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Occupational Exposure; Electrocardiography; Stress, Psychological; Blood Gas Analysis; Alkalosis, Respiratory; Sodium Cyanide