J Korean Med Sci.  2018 Mar;33(11):e52. 10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e52.

The Emerging Method of Suicide by Electronic Cigarette Liquid: a Case Report

• Park EJ
• Min YG

• KMID: 2405659
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e52

Abstract

Electronic cigarettes (ECs) are a device that aerosolize liquid nicotine by heating a solution of nicotine, glycerol and flavoring agents. The awareness and the usage of ECs has increased in many countries. Due to the online sales and the absence of EC regulations, the prevalence of EC usage is especially high in adolescents and young adults. Due to the large amount and the high nicotine concentration of EC liquid, the ingestion for suicide can lead to cardiac death. We had two patients, a 27-year-old male who ingested about 23 mg/kg of nicotine and a 17-year-old female who ingested about 30 mg/kg of nicotine. Both patients presented seizure-like movement and cardiac arrest. They had metabolic acidosis and transient cardiomyopathy. They were ultimately discharged with a cerebral performance category of 2 and 4, respectively. Increasing EC use may produce more cases of medical problems or suicide by nicotine intoxication.

Keyword

Electronic Cigarette; Nicotine; Poisoning; Suicide

MeSH Terms

Acidosis
Adolescent
Adult
Cardiomyopathies
Commerce
Death
Eating
Electronic Cigarettes*
Female
Flavoring Agents
Glycerol
Heart Arrest
Heating
Hot Temperature
Humans
Male
Methods*
Nicotine
Poisoning
Prevalence
Social Control, Formal
Suicide*
Young Adult
Flavoring Agents
Glycerol
Nicotine