Kernbach-Wighton G, Kijewski H, Schwanke P, Saur P, Sprung R
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Göttingen, Germany.
Int J Legal Med. 1998;111(4):191-5. doi: 10.1007/s004140050148.
A 24-year-old student died while filling flasks with liquid nitrogen. The arms, legs and back were frozen and the face, ears and neck showed a dark red and livid colour with horizontal lines of demarcation. In the electrocardiogram, the heart showed asystolia followed by wide ventricular complexes. The patient was intubated orally as the situs of the larynx and pharynx showed no pathology findings. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was carried out and terminated after 90 min. Unfortunately, the body temperature was not measured. The gas analysis of venous blood showed metabolic acidosis and oxygen deficiency. The student had worked alone with nitrogen, without opening the windows and without a working ventilation system. While filling the third flask he lost consciousness. As nitrogen does not cause characteristic prodromal signs he laid on the floor and was unable to help himself. The liquid nitrogen which was still escaping spread over the floor and vaporized. The student died from asphyxia due to oxygen deficiency in an atmosphere of nitrogen.
一名24岁的学生在往烧瓶中灌注液氮时死亡。其手臂、腿部和背部被冻伤，面部、耳朵和颈部呈现暗红色且有水平分界线。心电图显示心脏停搏，随后出现宽大的心室复合波。因喉部和咽部未发现病理迹象，遂对患者进行了经口插管。实施了心肺复苏，90分钟后终止。遗憾的是，未测量体温。静脉血气分析显示代谢性酸中毒和缺氧。该学生独自操作氮气，未开窗且通风系统不工作。在灌注第三个烧瓶时，他失去了意识。由于氮气不会引起典型的前驱症状，他倒在地板上无法自救。仍在泄漏的液氮蔓延到地板上并汽化。该学生因在氮气环境中缺氧窒息而死亡。
