[Neurological and heart failure following an accidental intoxication by hydrogen sulphide: a case report].

We report the case of a patient who was victim of a hydrogen sulphide poisoning. This poisoning took place following a fall in sewers. The initial clinical presentation was dominated by an acute respiratory failure caused by an acute pulmonary oedema. In this context, non cardiogenic pulmonary oedema is usually evoked in the literature. Our observation supports a left ventricular systolic dysfunction as a possible cause of this cardiorespiratory complication. The initial presentation was also marked by a coma which is often associated with severe poisonings by hydrogen sulphide. Evolution was favourable under symptomatic treatment. We discuss the mechanism of heart and neurological failure. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.