Tissue Distribution of Lidocaine in Acute Death to Overdosing

• NCJ Number: 188653
• Journal: Legal Medicine Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: August 2000 Pages: 101-105
• Author(s): Keiko Shimizu; Hiroshi Shiono; Kazuo Matsubara; Toshio Awaya; Tomoyuki Takahashi; Osamu Saito; Kento Ogawa; Hajime Mizukami; Takashi Uezono; Hiroaki Akutsu
• Date Published: August 2000
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Japan

Annotation

This case study describes postmortem findings related to a double suicide involving an acute lidocaine overdose in Japan, with emphasis on the tissue distribution of the lidocaine using an improved gas chromatographic method.

Abstract

A 78-year-old woman and her daughter, who was a nurse, committed double suicide with a bolus injection of 1 gram of lidocaine hydrochloride. Results of the autopsy revealed a blood level of 42 micrograms per milliliter and a brain concentration of 70 micrograms per gram. The blood level was higher than that calculated using the standard pharmacokinetic parameters. The postmortem analysis also revealed lower blood/tissue ratios than described in other research literature. Findings indicated that the cardiac failure occurred immediately after the lidocaine injection. The analysis concluded that the study data indicated the distribution of lidocaine after sudden death due to overdosing. Figures, tables, and 9 references (Author abstract modified)