Successful out-of-hospital defibrillation for ventricular fibrillation complicating solvent abuse.

The Authors describe the case history of a child who suffered a cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation after deliberate inhalation of 1,1,1-Trichloroethane in typewriter correction fluid thinners. Successful out-of-hospital defibrillation was carried out and the patient made a full recovery. The literature relating to this particular form of volatile substance abuse is reviewed.