1/14. Lethal or life-threatening allergic reactions to food.Fatal or life-threatening anaphylactic reactions to food occur in infants, children and adults. Atopic individuals with bronchial asthma and prior allergic reactions to the same food are at a particularly high risk, whereby even the mere inhalation of the allergenic food can be fatal. Not only peanuts, seafood and milk can induce severe, potentially lethal anaphylaxis, but indeed a wide spectrum of foods, according to the different patterns of food sensitivity in different countries. Foods with "hidden" allergens and meals at restaurants are particularly dangerous for patients with food allergies. Similarly, schools, public places and restaurants are the major places of risk. However, the main factor contributing to a fatal outcome is the fact that the victims did not carry their emergency kit with adrenaline (epinephrine) with them. In cases of death where food anaphylaxis is suspected, it is important for forensic reasons to preserve uneaten portions of the food in order to identify (hidden) allergens. It is also important to determine postmortem specific serum IgE, tryptase and histamine levels to document the anaphylaxis. There is a need to raise awareness of the diagnosis and treatment of anaphylaxis among doctors, those called upon to administer emergency medical care, and the public, and also to provide increased support for those with potentially fatal food allergies through the help of patients' organizations, and national and international medical societies. The food industry should ensure a policy of comprehensive labelling of ingredients so that even the smallest amount of potentially lethal foodstuffs can be clearly identified. Finally, the pharmaceutical industry should be persuaded to reintroduce an adrenaline inhaler onto the market.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inhalation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/14. family poisoned by mercury vapor inhalation.Acute mercury vapor poisoning is an uncommon but potentially fatal toxicologic emergency. A case series is presented of a family who became exposed to mercury vapor as a result of home gold ore processing. The severity of the poisoning necessitated mechanical ventilation in three of the eight patients who were exposed. Despite aggressive management, two patients died, because their clinical course was dominated by irreversible pulmonary toxicity. The remaining survivors developed varying degrees of mercury toxicity. The pathophysiology, clinical presentation and current treatment guidelines for acute mercury vapor poisoning are emphasized.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = inhalation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/14. Upper airway obstruction due to inhalation of a tracheal T-tube resulting in pulmonary edema.Acute upper airway obstruction may present with pulmonary edema. Following is a report of pulmonary edema secondary to acute upper airway obstruction due to inhalation of a Montgomery tracheal T-tube. The principal factor causing pulmonary edema is the generation of large negative transpulmonary pressures. This may be enhanced by changes in the cardiovascular function due to the Muller maneuver.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = inhalation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/14. A rare complication of chlorine gas inhalation: pneumomediastinum.chlorine gas is a potent pulmonary irritant that causes acute damage in both the upper and lower respiratory tract.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = inhalation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/14. Treatment of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure caused by chlorine exposure.chlorine inhalation may rapidly cause pulmonary edema, leading to acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. We report a 12 year old with acute respiratory failure from inhalation injury after he accidentally dropped chlorine tablets into a swimming pool. Supplemental oxygen alone failed to provide adequate arterial oxygenation. We administered positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) in the emergency department, resulting in markedly improved oxygenation. Early institution of PEEP should be considered in patients with chlorine poisoning when supplemental oxygen alone is insufficient.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = inhalation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/14. Laryngeal burns secondary to the ingestion of microwave-heated food.Thermal injuries to the upper airway are a well-recognized complication of the inhalation of steam and hot gases, but have only rarely been reported to occur in relation to the ingestion of heated foodstuffs. We report the case of an acute laryngeal burn caused by the ingestion of a microwave-heated food product, a previously undescribed complication of ingesting microwave-processed foods.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inhalation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/14. Endotracheal administration of epinephrine and atropine.A case history of a seven-month-old girl arriving at the emergency department in cardiac arrest from an inhalation injury without venous access is described. The patient was resuscitated with endotracheal administration of epinephrine and atropine. A review of the literature of endotracheal administration of medications in pediatrics subsequently follows.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inhalation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/14. extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as emergency treatment for life-threatening acute severe asthma.We report a case of acute severe asthma that was resistant to full medical treatment, mechanical ventilation and halothane inhalation. Because a fatal outcome appeared likely extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, involving partial cardiac bypass, using femoral artery and femoral vein cannulation was instituted as an urgent measure. The patient then made a satisfactory recovery.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inhalation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/14. Carboxyhemoglobinemia caused by inhalation of methylene chloride.Spray-paint inhalation, once a common and inexpensive source of drug abuse, is now rare. Newer organic solvents, such as methylene chloride, were thought to decrease the toxicity of aerosol solvents, but they carry unique toxicities of their own. methylene chloride toxicity is difficult to diagnose, as early symptoms are similar to those associated with many intoxicants; however, a rising carboxyhemoglobin level, despite removal of the patient from the source of exposure, is pathognomonic. In dealing with industrial exposures or organic aerosol abuse, a carboxyhemoglobin level should be part of the initial diagnostic workup, and treatment with oxygen is mandatory until toxicity resolves.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = inhalation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/14. Accidental hypothermia: a survivor of 12 episodes.Accidental hypothermia is defined as an environmentally induced reduction of the core body temperature to 35 degrees C or below, where there is no primary endocrine or preoptic anterior hypothalmic dysfunction. We report a survivor of 12 episodes of accidental hypothermia. A comparison of his rewarming rates with passive external versus active core rewarming by inhalation of heated humidified oxygen via nasotracheal tube is provided. Multiple predisposing factors contributed to the repeated episodes of hypothermia. Anatomic causes of repeated nonaccidental hypothermia were excluded.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inhalation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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