Trichloroethane (TCE) and central sleep apnea: A case study

Abstract
A patient with severe central sleep apnea was described. Trichloroethane (TCE), a commercial solvent, was circumstantially implicated as the etiology in this case. TCE and other toxic chemicals need to be considered potential etiologic agents in certain idiopathic central sleep apnea patients. Respiratory arrest was postulated to be the primary cause of sudden death following TCE inhalation.