Case Report Links Inhaled Nitrous Oxide Gas to Pulmonary Embolism Risks

Researchers are urging doctors to be aware of the risk of pulmonary embolisms among young patients inhaling nitrous oxide gas, recommending increased screening for use of the “whippets”.

Doctors in Miami say a 31-year-old man suffered a life-threatening pulmonary embolism they believe was triggered by his recreational use of nitrous oxide, which has been increasingly used by young adults in recent years to obtain a brief high.

While nitrous oxide gas canisters are intended for use in medical settings and food preparation, they have become easy to purchase through smoke shops and online retailers, where a variety of products are sold in small, brightly colored canisters, sometimes even in different flavors.

Often referred to as “laughing gas” or “whippits,” these nitrous oxide cartridges are frequently misused to inhale the gas, producing a short-lived sense of euphoria or disconnection.

A case report published in the medical journal Cureus (PDF) last month details the examination and treatment of a man suffering from an ongoing habit of inhaling nitrous oxide gas, who came to the hospital presenting with dyspnea and calf pain. The report calls for doctors to be aware of the risk of unexplained thrombosis in connection with the drug’s use, particularly in younger patients.

The findings come as health officials around the world continue to raise alarms about the rising recreational use of nitrous oxide, noting that inhaling the gas can deprive the brain of oxygen and lead to serious neurological harm. Frequent or heavy use has been associated with nerve and spinal cord damage, cognitive impairment and even fatal outcomes.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about nitrous oxide overdoses in March, reporting an increase in cases involving paralysis, hallucinations, brain injury and death. The agency noted that many of these incidents appear to be tied to the wider availability of nitrous oxide products being sold through vape shops and convenience stores.

The case report also comes as a growing number of former users and family members have begun to file nitrous oxide lawsuits, claiming that these products were widely sold without any warnings about the severe and sometimes permanent side effects associated with inhaling the gas recreationally.

In the case report, a 31-year-old man was diagnosed with what is known as a saddle pulmonary embolism (SPE), which causes a large visible thrombus and only occurs in about 5% of pulmonary embolism cases. He also suffered from deep vein thrombosis in his right leg.

Doctors from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine warned that a SPE could result in acute hemodynamic collapse, cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock and respiratory failure, all of which can be life threatening.

The patient had previously suffered a pulmonary embolism and was diagnosed with nitrous oxide substance abuse disorder. Doctors placed him in the intensive care unit for two days, treating him with heparin and oral blood thinners. He was later discharged home in stable condition.

“Although this report describes a single case and has limited generalizability, understanding this mechanism may help guide targeted therapies and prevent future thromboembolic episodes.”

– University of Miami researchers, Saddle Pulmonary Embolism Secondary to
Nitrous Oxide Use: A Case Report and Literature Review

The doctors indicated the case highlights the risks of nitrous oxide abuse, which led to severe venous thromboembolism and a low B12 vitamin deficiency. While pulmonary embolisms linked to nitrous oxide use were previously considered rare, they are growing in frequency in recent years.

Nitrous Oxide Lawsuits

Nitrous oxide canisters are widely available through smoke shops, gas stations and online retailers, often under brand names like Baking Bad, Cosmic Gas, Galaxy Gas, HOTWHIP, InfusionMax, MassGass, Miami Magic and Whip-it!

Lawsuits allege that the manufacturers have failed to provide adequate warnings and used deceptive marketing tactics to promote the canisters as safe or harmless. Former users and family members seek to hold those manufacturers accountable for injuries caused by them placing profits over consumer safety.

Nitrous oxide injury and wrongful death lawyers are currently offering free consultations to individuals and families nationwide who may be eligible for compensation through a nitrous oxide injury lawsuit.

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