Case of cardiac arrest due to carbon dioxide poisoning following an explosion of a carbon dioxide tank

Carbon dioxide is widely used for a variety of purposes. As it is a normal constituent of air, the public generally regards it as safe. Although low concentrations of carbon dioxide are not harmful to human beings, high concentrations are toxic, and can cause serious harm, including cardiac arrest. Only a limited number of cases of carbon dioxide intoxication have been reported in Korea, and they have all been mild, with no cases of cardiac arrest following acute exposure to high concentrations of carbon dioxide, reported previously. We describe a case of carbon dioxide poisoning following an explosion of a carbon dioxide tank, which led to cardiac arrest in a 66-yearold patient. This cardiac arrest could have been avoided if the patient was fully aware of the hazardous effects and serious consequences of exposure to high concentrations of carbon dioxide.

A Clinical Review of Patients Who Visited Emergency Medical Center with Positive Methamphetamine Tests: A Single Institute Study

PURPOSE: Methamphetamine is an ongoing illegal drug problem worldwide, and its use in South Korea has spread over the last few years. In this study, a clinical review of patients who visited emergency medical centers with positive methamphetamine tests was conducted. METHODS: Patients underwent methamphetamine screening based on physician suspicion over a period of 13 years. Their patient characteristics, clinical features, and drug administration properties were described. RESULTS: A total of 297 patients were included, with 19 positive methamphetamine results. Patient age ranged from 21 to 84, with a mean of 37.52. Additionally, 13 were male and 6 were female. The mean BP, PR, RR were 131/82 mmHg, 94/min, 20/min. Saturation levels were all over 95%. Five patients had a psychiatric history. Patient showed varied symptoms ranging from mental changes to chest discomfort. In addition, seven showed abnormal electrocardiography findings and one showed elevated cardiac enzyme levels. Other laboratory results revealed no significantly abnormal results. Six patients also suffered from related trauma. The majority of patients consumed the methamphetamine orally, with unknown motivation at unknown locations. Most were transported by 119 and six CONCLUSION: Patients who showed positive results to a methamphetamine screening test in Korea visited the emergency medical center mostly by 119 and were unaware of or reluctant to reveal the fact that they had ingested methamphetamine. Emergency physicians should be more aware of the possibility that a patient may have consumed methamphetamine.