Cina S J, Downs J C, Conradi S E
Charleston County Medical Examiner's Office, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425-0701.
Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1994 Mar;15(1):44-50.
Hydrogen peroxide is a readily available clear, odorless liquid that is commonly used as an irrigant for superficial wounds. It is not widely thought of as a poison; however, it may rarely be the cause of accidental death. A case of fatal oxygen embolism in a child after ingestion of hydrogen peroxide is reported. A total of five similar cases have been previously described. Morbidity and mortality have also been reported with the use of hydrogen peroxide in hospitals. Gastric catabolism of hydrogen peroxide produces oxygen and water. When the amount of oxygen evolved exceeds its maximal blood solubility, venous embolization occurs. Hydrogen peroxide should not be considered to be innocuous; it should neither be ingested nor used in situations where the evolved oxygen gas cannot dissipate freely. The ubiquitous nature of household peroxide and its erroneous benign reputation suggest that child-resistant containers are in order. A protocol delineating the medicolegal investigation and postmortem examination of fatalities caused by the ingestion of this substance is offered.
过氧化氢是一种容易获得的清澈、无味液体，通常用作浅表伤口的冲洗剂。人们一般不认为它是一种毒药；然而，它很少可能是意外死亡的原因。本文报告了一例儿童摄入过氧化氢后发生致命性氧栓塞的病例。此前总共描述过五例类似病例。医院使用过氧化氢也有发病率和死亡率的报告。过氧化氢在胃内分解产生氧气和水。当产生的氧气量超过其在血液中的最大溶解度时，就会发生静脉栓塞。过氧化氢不应被视为无害；在产生的氧气无法自由消散的情况下，既不应摄入也不应使用。家用过氧化氢随处可见，且有着错误的无害声誉，这表明需要使用儿童安全容器。本文提供了一份关于对摄入该物质导致死亡进行法医学调查和尸体解剖的方案。
