Helium gas poisoning associated with generalized tonic convulsions and marked acidosis : a case report

A man in his 20s was found with his head covered with a plastic bag connected to a helium tank. On admission, his Glasgow Coma Scale score was 10 and a blood gas test showed marked lactic acidosis. The acidosis was improved on the next day, after the ventilator management with sedatives administrati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inKANTO Journal of Japanese Association for Acute Medicine Vol. 45; no. 2; pp. 122 - 126
Main Authors Chon, Sonin, Kaneko, Naoyuki, Yunoki, Ryosuke
Format Journal Article
LanguageJapanese
Published Japanese Association for Acute Medicine of Kanto 29.03.2024
Subjects
balloon inflator
helium method
hypoxia
hypoxic encephalopathy
suicide attempt
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Summary:A man in his 20s was found with his head covered with a plastic bag connected to a helium tank. On admission, his Glasgow Coma Scale score was 10 and a blood gas test showed marked lactic acidosis. The acidosis was improved on the next day, after the ventilator management with sedatives administration. However, generalized convulsion appeared, and 12 days of ventilator management with sedatives and anticonvulsants were required until the convulsion disappeared. Helium gas is not toxic in itself, but inhalation of high concentration can cause hypoxemia, which may cause severe complications including hypoxic encephalopathy and cerebral gas embolism.
ISSN:0287-301X
2434-2580
DOI:10.24697/jaamkanto.45.2_122