A coroner has issued a warning to the NHS over the death of a woman from laughing gas.
Ellen Mercer, 24, suffered a blood clot after inhaling two to three large bottles every day.
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An inquest in April revealed that continued abuse of nitrous oxide, which left her unable to walk, contributed to her death.
The student, from Gerrards Cross, Bucks, died after 24 hours in a hospital emergency department without any formal assessment of blood clot risk.
Heidi Connor, senior coroner for Berkshire, expressed concern that these assessments took place just 24 hours after admission to the ward.
In a report on preventing future deaths, she said long emergency room waits before a patient is admitted are not taken into account.
Pals called Ellen – who died in February last year – “truly beautiful and a gentle soul”.
Last month, Ellen’s mother issued a heartbreaking warning following her daughter’s death.
Sharon Cook told The Sun: “If there is one more life that could be saved by your report then it is all worth it.
“Ellen did not know the dangers of this drug at the time. The message was: it was legal and therefore it is safe.
“The risks of nitrous were not disclosed, now everyone can see the risks involved – just don’t do it.”
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Nitrous oxide – the facts
Nitrous oxide – also known as laughing gas or hippie crack – was recently classified as Class C due to the dangers associated with the drug.
It can cause a range of health problems and, in some cases, can even be fatal.
Some common side effects of inhaling the gas are dizziness, nausea, disorientation, loss of balance and leg weakness, according to a study on its risks published in National Library of Medicine.
Nitrous oxide can impair memory and thinking, the research mentioned. Some users may also feel anxious or paranoid.
According to Alcohol and Drugs Foundation (ADF), the gas from nitrous oxide lamps is intensely cold, sometimes as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius.
Inhaling directly from the canister or crackers – handheld devices used to ‘break’ the canister open – can cause burns to the nose, lips and throat, even the vocal cords.
The icy cold of gas cylinders can also cause frostbite on your hands.
Intense and prolonged use of laughing gas can cause a lack of vitamin B12. Severe deficiency can cause serious nerve damage, causing tingling and numbness in fingers and toes.
A lack of B12 can also cause damage to the spinal cord.
In some cases, frequent and prolonged use of nitrous oxide has been associated with thromboembolic events – this means that a blood clot has become stuck and caused an obstruction.
So-called laughing gas has also resulted in deaths.
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