Kamijo Y, Soma K, Asari Y, Ohwada T
Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2000;38(1):59-62. doi: 10.1081/clt-100100918.
A suicide attempt by a 23-year-old woman involved ingestion of 1000 mL of petroleum naphtha. Early chemical pneumonitis was complicated by life-threatening, diffuse interstitial lung consolidation with pneumatoceles. Pulse steroid therapy beginning on day 17 was associated with remarkable resolution of interstitial consolidation, although an enlarging secondarily infected pneumatocele ruptured to produce a bronchopleural fistula. Thoracic surgery and antibiotic therapy resulted in improvement of the patient's respiratory condition, and she was discharged with no residual respiratory symptoms. High-dose corticosteroid therapy appears to be a useful addition to aggressive supportive treatment in late adult respiratory distress syndrome following hydrocarbon ingestion.
