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AN OVERVIEW OF CARBON MONOXIDE DEATHS IN KUWAIT BETWEEN YEARS 2013-2019 WITH FOUR RARE CASES PRESENTATION: A FORENSIC PRACTITIONER EXPERIENCE.

Article

Last updated: 23 Dec 2024

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Tags

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Abstract

Background: Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, non-irritating highly toxic gas produced after the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons. CO forms carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb), which will lead to severe tissue hypoxia and death in some cases. Materials and Method: In the present study, we will discuss the commonest causes of deaths due to CO toxicity in Kuwait between the years 2013-2019 from the perspective of a forensic medicine practitioner in the Forensic Medicine Department in the General Administration for Criminal Evidence – Ministry of Interior- Kuwait. Additionally, we present a rare accidental death of four cases (2 male and female partners), which were handled in 2015 and 2016 in the Forensic Medicine Department. Each couple was found dead in a car parked in an open space and the lethal levels of COHb were detected in their bloods. Result and conclusion: Between the years 2013-2019, in every 100 cases of non-criminal deaths that occur yearly in Kuwait, there were 1-3 cases of CO accidental poisoning (1-2%). The ages ranged from 9 months until 81 years. The range of the COHb concentration in the blood sample was from 36.5% to 80%. The most common cause was smoke inhalation in fires (60%). Defective coal stove was less common which is believed to occur only during winter months (20%). Consequently, the presentation of four autopsies of cases found dead in closed cars in open spaces, after accidental lethal CO inhalation, was worth mentioning. After expert examination, both cars showed defective engines where the CO level increases inside the cabinet which led to death while the cars were in an open land. These cases are worthwhile reporting being rarely described in forensic toxicology.

DOI

10.21608/ejfsat.2022.118574.1241

Keywords

Carbon Monoxide, Kuwait, Poisoning, defective interior vehicles, carboxyhaemoglobin, open space

Authors

First Name

Dina

Last Name

Ibrahim

MiddleName

Galal Ali Ahmed

Affiliation

Forensic Medicine Department, Cairo University , Faculty of Medicine

Email

dina.galal@kasralainy.edu.eg

City

-

Orcid

0000-0002-7385-4707

First Name

Nevine

Last Name

El Kady

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Forensic Medicine and clinical Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University

Email

nevinelkady@kasralainy.edu.eg

City

Cairo

Orcid

0000-0001-8680-2255

First Name

Inas

Last Name

Abdelgawad

MiddleName

Ibrahim

Affiliation

Forensic medicine and Clinical Toxicology department, Faculty of medicine Kasalainy, Cairo University

Email

inas.abdelgawad@kasralainy.edu.eg

City

-

Orcid

0000-0002-8026-6858

Volume

23

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

40135

Issue Date

2023-03-01

Receive Date

2022-01-27

Publish Date

2023-03-01

Page Start

27

Page End

36

Print ISSN

1687-0875

Online ISSN

2535-1915

Link

https://ejfsat.journals.ekb.eg/article_289778.html

Detail API

https://ejfsat.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=289778

Order

289,778

Type

Original Article

Type Code

429

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

The Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences and Applied Toxicology

Publication Link

https://ejfsat.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

AN OVERVIEW OF CARBON MONOXIDE DEATHS IN KUWAIT BETWEEN YEARS 2013-2019 WITH FOUR RARE CASES PRESENTATION: A FORENSIC PRACTITIONER EXPERIENCE.

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Type

Article

Created At

23 Dec 2024