A non-fatal potassium cyanide poisoning

Iznesen je slučaj otrovanja kalijevim cijanidom, kod kojega je pacijent uzeo per os u namjeri samoubistva približno petnaesterostruku letalnu dozu i ostao na životu. Komentirane su mogućnosti terapije. Iznesena je toksikologija cijanida, dijagnostički i terapeutski postupci.A case of potassium cyanide poisoning in a somatically healthy man, aged 24, is presented. With intention of committing suicide he swallowed 3.75 g of potassium cyanide (fifteen times the lethal dose) in a slice of bread. 30 minutes afterwards he was taken to the hospital in deep coma. After lavage of the stomach respiration stopped with slowing of the heart rate and extrasystolia. Artificial intratracheal breathing was applied, as well as the inhalation of amyl nitrite through 10 minutes (in the intervals of 2 minutes). This produced sporadic spontaneous respiration, and soon rhythmic respiration began. In half an hour the patient became conscious and was out of danger. The mechanism of intoxication and the therapy are discussed