Identification of laudanosine, an atracurium metabolite, following a fatal drug-related shooting.

In a case involving a fatal shooting, toxicology tests on blood and urine demonstrated the presence of cocaine metabolites and a large amount of an unidentified compound. This compound was subsequently identified by mass spectral, gas chromatographic, and thin layer chromatographic tests as laudanosine, a metabolite of the skeletal muscle relaxant atracurium which was administered during emergency surgery. Identification was confirmed by comparison with commercially available standards. Because of the difficulty associated with isolating and chromatographing highly water-soluble compounds, recognition of this artifact is a useful tool in identifying these cases.