Abstract: Brief Reports1 March 1982Homemade Nitrous Oxide: No Laughing MatterFRANK V. MESSINA, M.D., JAMES W. WYNNE, M.D.FRANK V. MESSINA, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, JAMES W. WYNNE, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-96-3-333 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptNitrous oxide, a common anesthetic gas, is produced by the combustion of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3). Extensive commercial purification removes toxic by-products such as ammonia and oxides of nitrogen, principally nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Rarely does the purification fail (1). We report a patient who had acute pulmonary toxicity after inhaling homemade nitrous oxide containing high levels of nitrogen dioxide. To our knowledge, a similar case has not been reported.A 20-year-old white man with a 3-day history of dyspnea, chills, pleuritic chest pain, wheezing, and coughing mucoid sputum came to the emergency room of Shands Teaching Hospital....References1. CLUTTON-BROCK J. Two cases of poisoning by contamination of nitrous oxide with higher oxides of nitrogen during anaesthesia. Br J Anaesth. 1967;39,388-92. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. SHEDLINWALLECHINSKYSALYER MDS eds. Laughing Gas—Nitrous Oxide. Berkeley: and/or Press; 1973:48. Google Scholar3. . Nitrogen Oxides. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences; 1977:268-9. Google Scholar4. DAWSONSCHENKER SM. Health effects of inhalation of ambient concentrations of nitrogen dioxide. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1979;120,281-92. Editorial. MedlineGoogle Scholar5. SPRAGUE A. Nitrous oxide as an anesthetic. Boston Med Surg J. 1864;71:169. CrossrefGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: University of Florida College of Medicine and the Veterans Administration Medical Center Gainesville, Florida PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byNeurologic, psychiatric, and other medical manifestations of nitrous oxide abuse: A systematic review of the case literatureNitrous Oxide Abuse IssuesSubstances volatilesInhalantsAutoerotic accident associated with self-applied ketamineFrostbite of the face after recreational misuse of nitrous oxideFatal Nitrous Oxide AbuseAsphyxial Deaths from the Recreational Use of Nitrous OxideDrug AbuseVolatile Substances of AbuseAdulterants and SubstitutesNitrous oxide, an opioid addictive agentNitrous oxide sedation/analgesia in emergency medicine 1 March 1982Volume 96, Issue 3Page: 333-334KeywordsAcademic medicineHeartInhalationIschemiaLungsMedical servicesNitratesNitric oxideSputumToxicity Issue Published: 1 March 1982 PDF downloadLoading ...
Publication Year: 1982
Publication Date: 1982-03-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
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Cited By Count: 15
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