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Death Due to Apparent Intravenous Injection of Tapentadol
Author(s) -
Kemp Walter,
Schlueter Scott,
Smalley Elizabeth
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02299.x
Subject(s) - tapentadol , forensic toxicology , medicine , cause of death , autopsy , nicotine , anesthesia , medical examiner , time of death , pharmacology , chromatography , poison control , chemistry , emergency medicine , injury prevention , opioid , receptor , disease
This case report describes a 34‐year‐old male who died as the result of tapentadol toxicity. This case apparently represents the first reported description of a death because of this drug. The toxicologic features of this case, namely concentrations of tapentadol in the femoral blood and heart blood, 1.05 and 3.20 mg/L, respectively, may assist other individuals in evaluating deaths where tapentadol concentration is a factor. Analysis of the blood based upon enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry revealed no other substance of significance, only nicotine and cotinine, and the autopsy findings were consistent with an opiate‐type drug overdose, and indicated no competing cause of death.