A fatality from sevoflurane abuse.

ABSTRACT

A case is presented of a 47-year-old man who died as a result of sevoflurane abuse. Sevoflurane was identified and confirmed by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The heart blood sevoflurane concentration was 16 mg/L, and the peripheral blood sevoflurane concentration was 8.0 mg/L. No drugs or other volatile substances were found in the heart blood. The medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia due to sevoflurane toxicity. Cardiomegaly was listed on Part II of the death certificate. The manner of death was undetermined.