INTRODUCTION: Toxicological findings in deaths by @entity2063 due to a pure inert gas like helium are rare. We present three suicide cases of @entity204 attributed to @entity519 caused by inhalation of helium in a plastic bag positioned over the head. METHODS: In one case, lung tissue, brain tissue and heart blood were obtained during standard autopsy procedures. In two cases, samples were obtained differently: heart blood, femoral blood, brain tissue, lung tissue and/or air from the lungs were directly sealed into headspace vials during autopsy. Air from the lungs was collected using a syringe and transferred into an @entity3775 gas sampling bag which was heat sealed as soon as possible. Semi-quantitative gas analyses were performed using headspace gas chromatography-thermal conductivity detection (HS-GC/ @entity12705 ) with a molsieve column capable of separating permanent gasses. @entity1568 was used as carrier gas. RESULTS: In the first case no helium was detected in lung tissue, brain tissue and heart blood. In the second case the presence of helium was detected in lung tissue (approximately 5% helium in gaseous phase) but not in femoral blood. In the third case the presence of helium was detected in air from the lungs (0.05%), lung tissue (0.4%), brain tissue (0.1%) and heart blood (0.04%). CONCLUSIONS: Helium is easily lost if sampling is not performed properly. The presented cases suggest that quick sample collection of various matrices during autopsy is suitable to detect gasses like helium in postmortem cases. Use of HS-GC/ @entity12705 enables to detect an inert gas like helium.

Toxicological findings in three cases of suicidal XXXX with helium.

@entity3775 :: ('MESH:D000535', 'Chemical') :: ['aluminum'] @entity1568 :: ('MESH:D009584', 'Chemical') :: ['Nitrogen'] @entity12705 :: ('MESH:D015794', 'Disease') :: ['TCD'] @entity2063 :: ('MESH:C537571', 'Disease') :: ['asphyxiation'] @entity519 :: ('MESH:D000860', 'Disease') :: ['anoxia'] @entity204 :: ('MESH:D003643', 'Disease') :: ['asphyxial death']
@entity2063 :: (MESH:C537571,Disease) :: ['asphyxiation']
