Lessons from a suicide attempt by intra-abdominal ricin injection

Am J Disaster Med. 2021;16(1):75-80. doi: 10.5055/ajdm.2021.0389.

Abstract

A 19-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department 7 hours after a suicide attempt with an intra-abdominal injection of self-prepared ricin solution. In the following 6 days, she has developed multiorgan-failure, and despite all intensive care interventions-including plasma exchange, high-frequency ventilation, and continuous renal replacement -therapy-she passed away. We describe in detail the chain of events and discuss shortly the known literature about this rare poisoning.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Critical Care
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Female
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Ricin* / toxicity
  • Suicide, Attempted
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Ricin