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Forensic Toxicology
Published in: Forensic Toxicology 1/2019

01-01-2019 | Case Report

Postmortem detection of rocuronium and sugammadex by LC/MS in the blood of a patient who died on postoperative day 8

Authors: Yoshiaki Iwamuro, Takaya Murakami, Reiko Ishimaru, Satoshi Chinaka

Published in: Forensic Toxicology | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Purpose

This case report describes the purposeful forensic detection of both the muscle relaxant rocuronium and the reversal agent sugammadex in the blood of a patient who died 8 days after surgery.

Methods

The two compounds were analyzed by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS).

Results

The molar concentrations of the two compounds were almost the same, indicating that rocuronium had lost its muscle relaxant effect, because rocuronium and sugammadex formed a 1:1 complex in the blood due to their high affinities.

Conclusions

When a muscle relaxant is detected in a forensic sample, the presence of its reversal agent should also be investigated.
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Metadata
Title
Postmortem detection of rocuronium and sugammadex by LC/MS in the blood of a patient who died on postoperative day 8
Authors
Yoshiaki Iwamuro
Takaya Murakami
Reiko Ishimaru
Satoshi Chinaka
Publication date
01-01-2019
Publisher
Springer Japan
Published in
Forensic Toxicology / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 1860-8965
Electronic ISSN: 1860-8973
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-018-0441-x

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