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Fentanyl Analog Screening using LC-TIMS-TOF MS/MS
Published on: November 8, 2024
Fatal outcome in a child after ingestion of a transdermal fentanyl patch
Jörg Teske1, Jens-Peter Weller, Klaus Larsch
1Institute of Legal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. teske.joerg@mh-hannover.de
Abstract:
The case history and toxicological findings of a fatal fentanyl intoxication due to ingestion of a transdermal patch are presented. A 1-year-old otherwise healthy girl was put to bed and 2 h later she was found dead. The autopsy revealed a 25-microg/h (4.2 mg) transdermal fentanyl patch in the stomach. Toxicological analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with positive electrospray ionization yielded fentanyl and norfentanyl concentrations in the peripheral blood of 5.6 and 5.9 ng/ml, heart blood 19.0 and 8.9 ng/ml, and liver 235 and 26 ng/g, respectively. The cause of death was determined to be a fentanyl overdose. The investigation established that the child has unintentionally swallowed the patch, which had been lying on the floor.
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