ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 9

Postmortem Determination of the Biological Distribution of Sufentanil and Midazolam after an Acute Intoxication
Hagardorn, AN
Toxicologist and research specialist, East Tennessee State University, TN

Ferslew, KE
Toxicologist and research specialist, East Tennessee State University, TN

McCormick, WF
Deputy chief medical examiner of the State of Tennessee, Quillen-Dishner College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, TN

(Received 11 March 1988; accepted 18 April 1988)

Abstract

A case is presented of a death caused by self-injection of sufentanil and midazolam. Biological fluids and tissues were analyzed for midazolam by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and for sufentanil by GC/MS. Midazolam was extracted from basified fluids or tissues homogenated with n-butyl chloride and analyzed by HPLC by using a phosphate buffer: acetonitrile (60:40) mobile phase on a μ-Bondapak C18 column at 240 nm. Sufentanil was extracted from basified fluids and tissue homogenates with hexane:ethanol (19:1). GC/MS methodology for both compounds consisted of chromatographic separation on a 15-m by 0.25-mm inside diameter (ID) DB-5 (1.0-μm-thick film) bonded phase fused silica capillary column with helium carrier (29 cm/s) splitless injection at 260°C; column 200°C (0.8 min) 10°C/min to 270°C; and electron ionization and multiple ion detection for midazolam (m/z 310), methaqualone (IS, m/z 235), sufentanil (m/z 289), and fentanyl (IS, m/z 245). Sufentanil concentrations were: blood 1.1 ng/mL, urine 1.3 ng/mL, vitreous humor 1.2 ng/mL, liver 1.75 ng/g, and kidney 5.5 ng/g. Midazolam concentrations were: blood 50 ng/mL, urine 300 ng/mL, liver 930 ng/g, and kidney 290 ng/g. Cause of death was attributed to an acute sufentanil/midazolam intoxication and manner of death a suicide.

Keywords:
toxicology, sufentanil, midazolam, overdose, drug abuse

Paper ID: JFS12630J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12630J
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