• Adolescents abuse inhalational agents due to lack of access to ETOH and illicit drugs
• Often halogenated hydrocarbon propellants like computer cleaner and paint stripper
• Sensitizes the myocardium to catecholamines
• Child is caught huffing and is frightened causing a catecholamines surge then v-fib arrest
• This was reported in a 1970 case series and "Sudden Sniffing Death" was coined (1)
• Actual treatment would be to administer B-Blocker in this instance (theoretical)

 

Bass. Sudden Sniffing Death. JAMA 1970.