A fatal ketamine poisoning

An unusual case of death by ketamine overdose is reported. The drug's administration was a homicide for homosexual ends. Authors discuss a rapid and effective solid-phase extraction procedure using Bond-Elute* C18 for Ketamine and Nor-Ketamine detection in biological fluids and tissues with a 75% recovery. The drug analysis was carried out by the means of gas-chromatography (GLC) and gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The yield of the procedure for Ketamine was: blood 27.4 micrograms/mL; urine 8.51 micrograms/mL; bile 15.2 micrograms/mL; brain 3.24 micrograms/mL; liver 6.6 micrograms/mL; kidney 3.38 micrograms/mL. Nor-Ketamine was detected in all samples, but not quantified.