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Case report on postmortem fentanyl measurement after overdose with more than 67 fentanyl patches. Forensic Toxicol 2021; 40:199-203. [DOI: 10.1007/s11419-021-00598-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose
Fentanyl is an analgesic that is frequently prescribed, which resulted in non-intentional as well as intentional misuse and deaths. Here, we present a postmortem case of a patient who clearly died of a fentanyl overdose due to an extensive number of fentanyl patches combined with oral intake of fentanyl and cocaine. We aimed to show how postmortem analysis can be used to interpret postmortem fentanyl concentrations in unique cases like the one we present.
Case description
A 23-year-old male was found dead in his bedroom with 67 non-prescribed patches of fentanyl on his body. In the room, there also were fentanyl tablets of 100 µg and cocaine powder, which had possibly also been taken by the deceased. To confirm the cause of death, urine and subclavian blood were retrieved to perform a standard postmortem toxicology screening. The toxicological screening revealed the presence of several drugs, including cocaine, fentanyl, lidocaine and paracetamol. Further analysis of the quantitative postmortem values of fentanyl with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry revealed a fentanyl concentration of 57.9 µg/L. Considering several issues around postmortem drug analyses, this value seemed to be in line with concentrations found in previously reported postmortem cases.
Conclusion
We were able to confirm the expected cause of death with an extensive toxicological screening in combination with the circumstantial evidence. We identified fentanyl as most important cause for the fatal outcome in this specific case and simultaneously contributed to the limited availability of knowledge on postmortem fentanyl concentrations.
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Lemaire E, Schmidt C, Dubois N, Denooz R, Charlier C, Boxho P. Site-, Technique-, and Time-Related Aspects of the Postmortem Redistribution of Diazepam, Methadone, Morphine, and their Metabolites: Interest of Popliteal Vein Blood Sampling. J Forensic Sci 2017; 62:1559-1574. [DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Revised: 11/06/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Lemaire
- Department of Pathology; University Hospital - CHU Sart Tilman; Domaine Universitaire du Sart Tilman - B.35; Liège B-4000 Belgium
- Department of Forensic Medicine; Medico-legal Institute of the University of Liège; Rue Dos-Fanchon 37; B-4020 Liège Belgium
| | - Carl Schmidt
- Department of Pathology; University of Michigan; 300 N. Ingalls, NI2D22, SPC 5452 Ann Arbor Michigan 48109 USA
| | - Nathalie Dubois
- Medico-legal Toxicology Laboratory; University Hospital - CHU Sart Tilman; Domaine Universitaire du Sart-Tilman - B.35; Liège B-4000 Belgium
| | - Raphael Denooz
- Medico-legal Toxicology Laboratory; University Hospital - CHU Sart Tilman; Domaine Universitaire du Sart-Tilman - B.35; Liège B-4000 Belgium
| | - Corinne Charlier
- Medico-legal Toxicology Laboratory; University Hospital - CHU Sart Tilman; Domaine Universitaire du Sart-Tilman - B.35; Liège B-4000 Belgium
| | - Philippe Boxho
- Department of Forensic Medicine; Medico-legal Institute of the University of Liège; Rue Dos-Fanchon 37; B-4020 Liège Belgium
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Lemaire E, Schmidt C, Denooz R, Charlier C, Boxho P. Postmortem Concentration and Redistribution of Diazepam, Methadone, and Morphine with Subclavian and Femoral Vein Dissection/Clamping. J Forensic Sci 2016; 61:1596-1603. [DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Revised: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Lemaire
- Department of Forensic Medicine; Medico-legal Institute of the University of Liège; Liège Belgium
| | - Carl Schmidt
- Department of Pathology; University of Michigan; Ann Arbor MI
| | - Raphael Denooz
- Medico-legal Toxicology Laboratory; University Hospital - C.H.U. Sart Tilman; Liège Belgium
| | - Corinne Charlier
- Medico-legal Toxicology Laboratory; University Hospital - C.H.U. Sart Tilman; Liège Belgium
| | - Philippe Boxho
- Department of Forensic Medicine; Medico-legal Institute of the University of Liège; Liège Belgium
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Pélissier-Alicot AL. La redistribution post mortem : état des lieux en 2016. TOXICOLOGIE ANALYTIQUE ET CLINIQUE 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxac.2015.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Lemaire E, Schmidt C, Denooz R, Charlier C, Boxho P. Popliteal Vein Blood Sampling and the Postmortem Redistribution of Diazepam, Methadone, and Morphine. J Forensic Sci 2016; 61:1017-28. [DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2015] [Revised: 08/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Lemaire
- Department of Forensic Medicine; Medico-legal Institute of the University of Liège; Rue Dos-Fanchon 37, B-4020 Liège Belgium
| | - Carl Schmidt
- Department of Pathology; University of Michigan; 300 N. Ingalls, NI2D22 Ann Arbor Michigan 48109 USA
| | - Raphael Denooz
- Medico-legal Toxicology Laboratory; University Hospital - C.H.U. Sart Tilman; Domaine Universitaire du Sart Tilman - B.35 B-4000 Liège Belgium
| | - Corinne Charlier
- Medico-legal Toxicology Laboratory; University Hospital - C.H.U. Sart Tilman; Domaine Universitaire du Sart Tilman - B.35 B-4000 Liège Belgium
| | - Philippe Boxho
- Department of Forensic Medicine; Medico-legal Institute of the University of Liège; Rue Dos-Fanchon 37, B-4020 Liège Belgium
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Cunningham SM, Haikal NA, Kraner JC. Fatal Intoxication with Acetyl Fentanyl. J Forensic Sci 2015; 61 Suppl 1:S276-80. [PMID: 26389815 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Revised: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Susan M. Cunningham
- Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; 619 Virginia Street West Charleston WV 25302
| | - Nabila A. Haikal
- Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; 619 Virginia Street West Charleston WV 25302
| | - James C. Kraner
- Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; 619 Virginia Street West Charleston WV 25302
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Hanzlick RL. Postmortem Ethanol Concentrations and Postmortem Ethanol Production. Acad Forensic Pathol 2014. [DOI: 10.23907/2014.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
A review of the literature was conducted in reference to postmortem blood ethanol concentrations and the issue of postmortem production of ethanol. Ethanol in postmortem specimens may occur as a result of antemortem consumption (most common), postmortem production in the body or in vitro by microorganisms (less common), and endogenous production by microorganisms during life (rare). The portion of ethanol-positive postmortem cases in which postmortem production of ethanol is thought to have occurred is small, as is the portion of cases in which postmortem production of ethanol is a potentially important issue. It is unusual for postmortem production of ethanol to account for more than a 70 mg/dL concentration, but cases with higher concentrations occasionally occur. Cases in which blood ethanol is positive but vitreous ethanol concentration is much lower or negative, and/or in which the urine: blood ethanol concentration ratio is less than one are supportive of postmortem ethanol production. The presence of other alcohols such as n-propanol and/or n-butanol is suggestive of postmortem microbial production of ethanol. The ratio of serotonin metabolites in urine may be helpful in distinguishing postmortem production of ethanol from antemortem consumption, as may the concentration of ethyl glucuronide in blood. Candida and some other species may produce ethanol in urine antemortem and postmortem. In rare instances such as infections, endogenous ethanol production may occur in a living person. Recommendations are made concerning samples to collect and tests that may be helpful in distinguishing antemortem ethanol consumption from postmortem production of ethanol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randy L. Hanzlick
- Fulton County, Georgia, and Forensic Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
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McIntyre IM. Liver and peripheral blood concentration ratio (L/P) as a marker of postmortem drug redistribution: a literature review. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2013; 10:91-6. [DOI: 10.1007/s12024-013-9503-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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