ABSTRACT
This paper describes analytical methods using high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the isolation of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, ketorolac. The drug is isolated from postmortem blood using a batched solid-phase extraction method on Amberlite XAD-2 resin. Derivatization of ketorolac using diazopropane was necessary prior to GC-MS analysis. The methods were applied in the investigation of a death occurring shortly after the administration of an intramuscular injection of ketorolac tromethamine. Death was attributed to an adverse reaction to the drug, resulting in anaphylaxis and cardiac arrest.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/blood , Tolmetin/analogs & derivatives , Tromethamine/analogs & derivatives , Adult , Anaphylaxis/blood , Anaphylaxis/chemically induced , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Drug Hypersensitivity/blood , Fatal Outcome , Female , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Humans , Injections, Intramuscular , Ketorolac , Ketorolac Tromethamine , Tolmetin/administration & dosage , Tolmetin/blood , Tolmetin/poisoning , Tromethamine/administration & dosage , Tromethamine/poisoningSubject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/poisoning , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Diflunisal/poisoning , Female , Fenoprofen/poisoning , Feprazone/poisoning , Humans , Ibuprofen/poisoning , Indomethacin/poisoning , Ketoprofen/poisoning , London , Male , Mefenamic Acid/poisoning , Naproxen/poisoning , Oxyphenbutazone/poisoning , Phenylbutazone/poisoning , Piroxicam , Thiazines/poisoning , Tolmetin/analogs & derivatives , Tolmetin/poisoningABSTRACT
A suicidal death is described involving zomepirac sodium. The postmortem blood concentration of zomepirac was 152 mg/L. An antemortem specimen obtained nine hours prior to death had a zomepirac concentration of 286 mg/L. An ultraviolet spectrophotometer was utilized for quantitation of the drug. Confirmation of the zomepirac was made by gas chromatography.
