Latest news with #nitrousoxide
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Health
- Yahoo
A chilling risk of recreational nitrous oxide use: Frostbite
Recreational use of nitrous oxide — often referred to as whippets or laughing gas — left a 23-year-old with frostbite in his mouth and throat, according to a report of the man's case published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. Recreational nitrous oxide use has been on the rise in recent years: Data from America's Poison Centers shows a nearly 60% increase in reports of intentional exposure to the drug from 2023 to 2024. The Food and Drug Administration has issued several warnings advising people against inhaling nitrous oxide products, which are often marketed to be used to make whipped cream. Frostbite occurs when ice crystals form in the skin and deeper tissues, damaging cells and disrupting blood flow. Dr. Michael Patrizio, associate director of acute care at the University of Virginia, said getting frostbite in the mouth and throat from inhaling nitrous oxide is rare, but not unheard of. The patient told Patrizio that his painful swallowing and hoarseness started immediately after he inhaled nitrous oxide directly from a canister two days prior. White blotches — the frostbitten tissue — swelled on the roof of his mouth, uvula and throat. 'Had he not been forthcoming with that information, that probably wouldn't have been something that crossed my mind,' said Patrizio, who saw the man at the campus's outpatient clinic and was a co-author of the case report. 'I would have thought a viral infection — mono, strep throat — or an STI in the throat.' When a compressed gas expands, it can cool to as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit — this is why compressed gas is used to cool refrigerators. Canisters of compressed nitrous oxide work in the same way. When the gas is released, it cools, sometimes drastically. 'This has the potential to cause frostbite,' Dr. Cara Borelli, an addiction medicine physician at Yale University, said in an email. Borelli wasn't involved with the patient's case. Surgeons use compressed nitrous oxide to perform ablations, a procedure that uses extreme cold or heat to remove tissue. 'If you have someone using drugs in an uncontrolled setting, you may certainly be doing damage to tissue that you don't want to be doing damage to,' said Dr. Jeffrey Ruwe, an emergency medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic who wasn't involved with the man's case. Overall, cases of frostbite from nitrous oxide canisters are rare, though they are likely underreported, Patrizio said. More commonly than in the mouth and throat, illicit nitrous oxide use leads to frostbite burns on the thighs and hands, since people hold chilled canisters and fill balloons with the gas, which allows the gas to warm before people inhale it. Frostbite can be serious — at least several people have required skin grafts and surgery due to nitrous oxide burns on their legs and hands — however 'that's not really the risk people think of,' Patrizio said. The more common risks of recreational nitrous oxide use include a ruptured lung, from inhaling the gas too deeply, and a lack of oxygen in the brain, he said. It can also cause vitamin deficiencies that can lead to potentially fatal neurological problems. 'Nitrous oxide inactivates vitamin B12, meaning that the body's B12 does not function as it is supposed to,' Borelli said. The body uses vitamin B12 to synthesize myelin, a substance made from fats and proteins that surrounds and insulates nerves. If this sheath breaks down, it can cause serious neurological issues. After chronic use, nitrous oxide can cause nervous system and brain changes that can progress from weakness and unsteadiness to paralysis. 'That's very real,' Ruwe said. Patrizio told his frostbitten patient to use over-the-counter pain medication, lidocaine and a steroid paste to reduce inflammation and swelling while his frostbite healed. Ruwe said this may not be the case for everyone. 'Frostbite is very, very rare, but if inhaled directly from a higher-pressure tank, or if it causes airway swelling, it could be time-sensitive and potentially deadly,' he said. This article was originally published on
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Driver, 20, who inhaled laughing gas moments before he hit and killed cyclist, 81, on pedestrian crossing faces a 'very long time in jail'
A driver who allegedly inhaled laughing gas just moments before he hit and killed an elderly cyclist on a pedestrian crossing faces a lengthy spell in jail, a court has heard. Cain Byrne, 20, smashed into Graham Slinn, 81, as he walked across the A57 near Todwick, South Yorkshire beside his bicycle, prosecutor Laura Marshall told Sheffield Crown Court. The motorist, who has never held a driving licence, is said to have ignored a red light while driving his Volkswagen Golf, throwing the victim at least 15ft in the air. Witnesses claimed Byrne made no attempt to stop and was travelling at speeds above the 50mph limit, with some saying he was driving at 80mph. He allegedly sped off after the collision on April 4, with dashcam footage showing his tyres smoking as he left the scene. Clips shown in court on Friday showed the defendant inhaling nitrous oxide gas from a yellow balloon as he was driving, both before and after the collision. Father-of-two Byrne admitted causing death by dangerous driving and a number of other offences at a previous hearing. He was due to be sentenced on Friday but, after hearing about his 'astonishing and appalling' driving record, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC ordered a report prepared by probation officers. Ms Marshall told the judge that Byrne had a range of convictions for 27 offences, including dangerous driving, despite having no driving licence. Rebecca Stephens, defending, told the court her client drove off because he believed he had only hit another vehicle with his wing mirror. Judge Richardson responded to this claim, saying: 'This shows how completely inebriated he was.' Ms Stephens told the court that her client had written a letter expressing his remorse for what he had done. She said Byrne had lost two brothers in traumatic circumstances: one in a car accident when he was 11; and the other being stabbed to death when he was 17. Judge Richardson said he also accepted the defendant had a 'very deprived background in every conceivable way'. In a statement read to the judge on Friday, Mr Slinn's wife, Jaqueline, described how she and her husband had been due to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this year. Mrs Slinn explained how the couple met through a love of cycling and her husband had a life-long love of riding his bike, which he did multiple times a week, despite his age. She said Mr Slinn worked as a scaffolder until he had to retire early following a heart attack, but he then helped care for adults with learning disabilities. He was also a keen singer who would perform in pubs and clubs in Sheffield. Mrs Slinn said: '60 years of marriage, almost, wiped out by the defendant.' Judge Richardson remanded Byrne in custody, saying: 'This young man is utterly, utterly out of control.' Telling the defendant he will now be sentenced on July 21, he said: 'For nearly 60 years Mr and Mrs Slinn lived thoroughly decent lives. 'I have heard quite a lot about Mr Slinn today and he seemed to have been a very good man.' Judge Richardson told Byrne: 'They were going to celebrate in the very near future their diamond wedding anniversary. 'That will not happen, and the reason that will not happen is because you drove a motor car when had no driving licence and had a truly astonishing and appalling driving record for someone aged 20 years. 'You drove that car with cloned licence plates at great speed, well in excess of the speed limit, on a dual carriageway, straight through a red light. And, you hit Mr Slinn as he was perfectly lawfully crossing the road.' The judge described how Bryne drove off with him and two others in the car with him inhaling nirous oxide. He said that, after killing Mr Slinn, he went about his business 'as if you did not have a care in the world'. Judge Richardson said: 'You come from a disordered family. You have led a disordered life. You were, at the material time, completely out of control.' He told him: 'You are facing a very, very long time in custody, this case demands that. This is about as bad as it gets'. After his death in April, Mr Slinn's family issued a statement through police which said: 'He was gentle. Funny. Kind to his core. And now he's gone. He and my mum were about to celebrate 60 years of marriage. 'Now she faces silence, heartbreak, and a future without the man who made her laugh every day.'
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Driver inhaled laughing gas before fatal A57 Rotherham crash
An unlicensed driver who killed a cyclist in a hit-and-run had been inhaling nitrous oxide at the wheel and ignored a red light before the crash, a court Slinn, 81, was walking his bike across the A57 near Todwick, South Yorkshire, when he was hit by Cain Byrne's car and thrown at least 15ft in the air on 4 April, prosecutor Laura Marshall told Sheffield Crown said the 20-year-old had made no attempt to stop at a crossing and had been travelling well over the 50mph limit, with one estimating his speed at father-of-two, who has never held a driving licence, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and a number of other offences at an earlier hearing. On Friday, he was meant to be sentenced but the hearing was adjourned to allow for further probation reports to be the court was shown footage of Byrne inhaling "laughing gas" from a balloon before and after the Stephens, defending, said Byrne drove away thinking he had only hit a vehicle with his wing mirror, which Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said showed how "completely inebriated" he had was seen in the CCTV footage inhaling from the balloon just moments after he hit Mr Marshall told the judge that Byrne, of Redvers Buller Road in Chesterfield, had 27 previous convictions, including for dangerous driving. 'Utterly out of control' Judge Richardson said Byrne had gone about his business "as if you did not have a care in the world"."For nearly 60 years Mr and Mrs Slinn lived thoroughly decent lives. They were going to celebrate, in the very near future, their diamond wedding anniversary," he said."That will not happen, and the reason that will not happen is because you drove a motor car with cloned licence plates, at great speed, well in excess of the speed limit, on a dual carriageway, straight through a red light."Jacqueline Slinn said she and her husband met through their love for cycling and he still rode his bike multiple times a week, despite his worked as a scaffolder until he had to retire following a heart attack, and then helped care for adults with learning disabilities, she said."Sixty years of marriage, almost, wiped out by the defendant," Mrs Slinn Richardson said Byrne was "utterly, utterly out of control", but accepted he had a "very deprived background in every conceivable way".The defendant lost two brothers in traumatic circumstances, Ms Stephens said, with one dying in a car accident when he was 11 and the other being stabbed when he was Richardson said: "You come from a disordered family. You have led a disordered life. You were, at the material time, completely out of control."You are facing a very, very long time in custody, this case demands that. This is about as bad as it gets."Byrne was remanded into custody ahead of his sentencing on 21 July. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
The Independent
5 days ago
- The Independent
‘Appalling' driver who killed pensioner on crossing was inhaling nitrous oxide, court told
A driver who failed to stop when he killed an elderly cyclist after ignoring a red light at a pedestrian crossing was inhaling nitrous oxide from a balloon before and immediately after the fatal collision, a judge has heard. Graham Slinn, 81, had dismounted and was walking across the A57 near Todwick, South Yorkshire, when he was hit by a Volkswagen Golf driven by Cain Byrne, 20, and thrown at least 15ft in the air, prosecutor Laura Marshall told Sheffield Crown Court. Witnesses said Byrne, who has never held a driving licence, made no attempt to stop at the crossing and was travelling well over the 50mph limit, with one estimating his speed at 80mph. He sped off after the collision on April 4, with dashcam footage showing his tyres smoking as he appeared to be trying to control the vehicle as he left the scene. A montage of footage shown in the court on Friday showed the defendant inhaling nitrous oxide gas from a yellow balloon a number of times as he was driving, both before and after the collision with Mr Slinn. One of these was just moments after he hit the pensioner. Father-of-two Byrne, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and a number of other offences at a previous hearing. He was due to be sentenced on Friday but, after hearing about his 'astonishing and appalling' driving record, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC decided he wanted a report prepared by probation officers. Ms Marshall told the judge that Byrne had a range of convictions for 27 offences, including dangerous driving, despite having no driving licence. Rebecca Stephens, defending, told the court her client drove off because he believed he had only hit another vehicle with his wing mirror. Judge Richardson responded to this claim, saying: 'This shows how completely inebriated he was.' Ms Stephens told the court that her client had written a letter expressing his remorse for what he had done. She said Byrne had lost two brothers in traumatic circumstances: one in a car accident when he was 11; and the other being stabbed to death when he was 17. Judge Richardson said he also accepted the defendant had a 'very deprived background in every conceivable way'. In a statement read to the judge on Friday, Mr Slinn's wife, Jaqueline, described how she and her husband had been due to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this year. Mrs Slinn explained how the couple met through a love of cycling and her husband had a life-long love of riding his bike, which he did multiple times a week, despite his age. She said Mr Slinn worked as a scaffolder until he had to retire early following a heart attack, but he then helped care for adults with learning disabilities. He was also a keen singer who would perform in pubs and clubs in Sheffield. Mrs Slinn said: '60 years of marriage, almost, wiped out by the defendant'. Judge Richardson remanded Byrne in custody, saying: 'This young man is utterly, utterly out of control.' Telling the defendant he will now be sentenced on July 21, he said: 'For nearly 60 years Mr and Mrs Slinn lived thoroughly decent lives. 'I have heard quite a lot about Mr Slinn today and he seemed to have been a very good man.' Judge Richardson told Byrne: 'They were going to celebrate in the very near future their diamond wedding anniversary. 'That will not happen, and the reason that will not happen is because you drove a motor car when had no driving licence and had a truly astonishing and appalling driving record for someone aged 20 years. 'You drove that car with cloned licence plates at great speed, well in excess of the speed limit, on a dual carriageway, straight through a red light. And, you hit Mr Slinn as he was perfectly lawfully crossing the road.' The judge described how Bryne drove off with him and two others in the car with him inhaling nirous oxide. He said that, after killing Mr Slinn, he went about his business 'as if you did not have a care in the world'. Judge Richardson said: 'You come from a disordered family. You have led a disordered life. You were, at the material time, completely out of control.' He told him: 'You are facing a very, very long time in custody, this case demands that.' And he added: 'This is about as bad as it gets'. After his death in April, Mr Slinn's family issued a statement through police which said: 'He was gentle. Funny. Kind to his core. And now he's gone. 'He and my mum were about to celebrate 60 years of marriage. 'Now she faces silence, heartbreak, and a future without the man who made her laugh every day.'
Khaleej Times
23-06-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
RAK Hospital introduces 'Happy Gas' procedures for dental care
In a move to redefine patient comfort and ease dental anxiety, RAK Hospital has introduced 'Happy Gas' procedures — using nitrous oxide sedation — for the first time in the Northern Emirates. Commonly referred to as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is widely used in the Western world and is now available at RAK Hospital to help patients, especially adults with dental phobia, undergo procedures in a relaxed and pain-free state. The service is led by Dr. Anurag Singh, Specialist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. The introduction of Happy Gas is especially beneficial for adult patients with dental phobia, enabling a calm, comfortable, and virtually stress-free experience during dental treatments ranging from fillings to surgical procedures. 'Dental anxiety is a very real and common issue,' said Dr. Anurag Singh. 'With Happy Gas, patients remain fully conscious yet relaxed and dissociated from fear. It makes procedures significantly more comfortable, especially for those who've had negative dental experiences in the past. We've already seen tremendous positive feedback from patients opting for this sedation.' Widely used across Western countries, nitrous oxide sedation is a quick-acting and reversible method that allows patients to undergo treatments without the stress traditionally associated with dental visits. At RAK Hospital, the procedure is available on an outpatient basis. Patients can resume normal activities immediately post-treatment. The Happy Gas session is priced competitively at Dh350. Dr. Raza Siddiqui, Executive Director of RAK Hospital, added: 'We are proud to be the first in the Northern Emirates to introduce this globally trusted technique in our dental department. At RAK Hospital, we constantly strive to bring world-class innovations to enhance patient experience. Happy Gas is not just about comfort—it's about making dental care more approachable and fear-free for our diverse community.' Although primarily available for adults currently, there are plans to extend this service to pediatric patients in the due course. The hospital has already successfully treated multiple patients with this method and expects its popularity to grow rapidly.
