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[Acute cocaine intoxication with fatal outcome]
I Rudolph1, B Tiefenbach, D Tiess
1Klinik und Poliklinik für Anaesthesiologie und Intensivtherapie, Medizinischen Fakultät, Universität Rostock.
Anaesthesiologie Und Reanimation
|January 1, 1996
Summary
This case report highlights how clinical and toxicological investigations are crucial for diagnosing unclear comas. Forensic analysis confirmed a lethal cocaine overdose, likely a suicide due to long-term abuse.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Toxicology
- Forensic Science
Background:
- Acute intoxication diagnosis can be challenging without clear clinical or anamnestic data.
- Cocaine abuse presents significant public health and forensic challenges.
Observation:
- A patient presented with an unclear coma, where initial clinical evaluation and history provided limited diagnostic information.
- Toxicologic-analytical investigation revealed unusually high concentrations of cocaine and its metabolites in biological samples.
Findings:
- The diagnosis of acute cocaine intoxication was established through emergency toxicological investigation.
- Analysis indicated a lethal dose of at least 1 gram of cocaine, suggesting suicide secondary to long-term abuse.
Implications:
- This case underscores the critical role of comprehensive clinical and toxicological assessments in diagnosing unexplained comatose states.
- Forensic toxicological analysis is vital for elucidating patient history and determining cause of death in complex cases.