VENTRICULAR-FIBRILLATION FOLLOWING BUTANE GAS INHALATION

We report a case of out of hospital defibrillation in a 15-year-old sc hoolgirl who developed ventricular fibrillation (VF) in association wi th butane gas inhalation. Although defibrillation performed by an atte nding paramedic was successful in restoring a cardiac output, her clin ical course was complicated by severe neurological impairment. Reports of successful resuscitation following volatile substance abuse are ra re and we believe this is the first documented evidence of VF associat ed with butane gas. This case illustrates the tragedy of such abuse in fit young people and we briefly review the literature. (C) 1998 Elsev ier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.