A pre-hospital team is treating a 30-year-old male who has inhaled butane gas from a lighter refill canister. He collapses and is found in VF cardiac ...

Question

A pre-hospital team is treating a 30-year-old male who has inhaled butane gas from a lighter refill canister. He collapses and is found in VF cardiac arrest. What is the mechanism of cardiac arrest in volatile substance abuse (VSA)?

Accepted Answer

Volatile hydrocarbons sensitise the myocardium to catecholamines, causing fatal arrhythmias (VF or VT) - this is called sudden sniffing death syndrome

Answer

Airway obstruction from the gas

Answer

Direct cardiac toxicity from carbon monoxide in the gas

Answer

Hypoxia from displacement of oxygen

Answer

Anaphylaxis to the butane

uk-dipimc MCQ (SBA): Volatile Substance Abuse - Cardiac Arrest

A pre-hospital team is treating a 30-year-old male who has inhaled butane gas from a lighter refill canister. He collapses and is found in VF cardiac arrest. What is the mechanism of cardiac arrest in volatile substance abuse (VSA)?