Recreational Inhalant Use Resulting in Cardiac Arrest and Eight Minutes of Oxygen Deprivation: Acute and Longer-Term Neuropsychological Outcomes in the Developing Brain

The intentional inhalation of vapors from volatile substances is a worldwide public health problem and estimated to be one of the most prevalent forms of experimental substance use in children aged between 11 and 15. We report on the acute and 3-month neuropsychological sequelae of a 14-year-old adolescent girl, who had been experimenting with polysubstance use only 3 months prior. Formal neuropsychological assessment occurred on days 10 and 11 during hospital admission and again at 3-month follow-up post-hospital discharge. Drawing from the adult field, the findings from this case are consistent with the neuropsychological literature with regard to a hypoxic-ischemic event rather than chronic inhalant and/or polysubstance abuse. This case is reported for its rarity in terms of the patient being able to be discharged back into the community and to create the awareness of the sudden and potentially devastating consequences of butane inhalant use, as well as the long-term effects of volatile substance use on the developing brain.