DOI: 10.12890/2022_003556

Troponemia Secondary to Air Duster Inhalant Abuse

Authors

  • Jesus Romero Internal Medicine Department, RWJBarnabas Health/Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA
  • Rachel Abboud Cardiology Department, St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, Paterson, New Jersey, USA
  • Sherif Elkattawy Cardiology Department, St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, Paterson, New Jersey, USA
  • Ana Romero Internal Medicine Department, RWJBarnabas Health/Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA
  • Omar Elkattawy Internal Medicine Department, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
  • Abdel Azez Abu Samak
  • Razan Shamoon Cardiology Department, St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, Paterson, New Jersey, USA

je-romeros@hotmail.com

Keywords

Inhalant, electronic dusters, tetrafluoroethane, cardiac injury

Abstract

The abuse of inhalants has become a public health concern in the USA over the past decade. Compressed air duster cans currently available in the USA contain highly toxic substances including different hydrofluorocarbons (including tetrafluoroethane and difluoroethane) which exert a psychoactive effect on the central nervous system. Several cases of inhalant-induced lethal arrhythmia such as ventricular fibrillation evolving to torsade de pointes and leading to cardiac arrest, have been reported in the literature. Furthermore, multiorgan failure including liver and kidney injury has been described after inhalant abuse. 
We report the case of a 33-year-old man found diaphoretic and with a near syncopal episode after inhalation of several cans of Surf Onn electronic duster gas cleaner, who subsequently developed acute cardiac, liver and kidney injury.

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References

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Published

2022-09-26

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 9 (2022)

How to Cite

1.
Romero J, Rachel Abboud, Sherif Elkattawy, Ana Romero, Omar Elkattawy, Abdel Azez Abu Samak, et al. Troponemia Secondary to Air Duster Inhalant Abuse . EJCRIM [Internet]. 2022 Sep. 26 [cited 2026 Nov. 3];9(9). Available from: https://ejcrim.com/index.php/ejcrim/article/view/3556

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