Korean J Leg Med.  2014 Nov;38(4):167-170. 10.7580/kjlm.2014.38.4.167.

Suicidal Death by Nicotine Poisoning

• Jun YJ
• Kim H
• Park S

• KMID: 1928010
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7580/kjlm.2014.38.4.167

Abstract

Nicotine is a water-soluble alkaloid extracted from tobacco plants, and most frequently encountered in snuff, chewing tobacco, cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco or in a limited number of pesticides. Nicotine overdose or poisoning might be serious or fatal and lead to death; caused by cardiovascular arrest, respiratory muscle paralysis, and/or central respiratory failure due to its toxic effect. Suicide by nicotine ingestion has been rarely reported due to emetic response. We present a case of suicidal nicotine poisoning. A 56-year-old man was found dead and the postmortem examination revealed no injury or disease. We confirmed a high concentration of nicotine in the toxicological test. Through scene investigation, we determined this case as a suicidal nicotine poisoning.

Keyword

Nicotine; Suicide; Poisoning

MeSH Terms

Autopsy
Eating
Humans
Middle Aged
Nicotine*
Pesticides
Poisoning*
Respiratory Insufficiency
Respiratory Paralysis
Suicide
Tobacco
Tobacco Products
Tobacco, Smokeless
Nicotine
Pesticides

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Gastric contents shows semi-digested food material mixed with brownish fluid.

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  Fig. 2. The esophageal mucosa showed mild coagulation necrosis, and pinkish mucosal change is also observed over the entire gastric mucosa.

Reference

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