[Unusual intimal and endocardial damage following suicidal infusion of thiobutabarbital]

A suicide is reported that was carried out by i.v. infusion of thiobutabarbital. The most impressive findings were macroscopical alterations in the venous endothelium, the endocardium of the right atrium and ventricle, and the endothelium of the pulmonary artery. The same local cytotoxic side effects could be reproduced in animal experiments. The lesions are most striking after circulatory stagnation in the agonal and supravital period when highly concentrated thiobarbiturates come into contact with the endothelium.