Respiratory medicine case reports
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Respir Med Case Rep · Jan 2019
Case ReportsHeat-not-burn cigarettes induce fulminant acute eosinophilic pneumonia requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Although the cause of acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) has not yet been fully clarified, cigarette smoking is reported to be a risk factor for developing AEP. The heat-not-burn cigarette (HNBC) was developed to reduce the adverse effects of smoke on the user's surroundings. However, the health risks associated with HNBCs have not yet been clarified. We report a successfully treated case of fatal AEP presumably induced by HNBC use. ⋯ As far as we know, our patient is the first case of AEP induced by HNBC use successfully treated with ECMO. Emergency physicians must be aware that HNBCs can induce fatal AEP.
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Respir Med Case Rep · Jan 2019
Case ReportsBilateral pneumothorax after pacemaker placement "Buffalo chest".
Bilateral pneumothoraces following unilateral subclavian vein cannulation is a rare complication. It is usually associated with an intrapleural communication which can be congenital or formed following cardiothoracic and mediastinal surgeries, or trauma. The term Buffalo chest was used to define a single chest cavity with no anatomic separation of the two hemithoraces. ⋯ In distinction, the pleural cavities in humans are entirely separated. We describe an 83-year-old female without prior history of cardiothoracic surgery, trauma or lung disease, who underwent dual chamber pacemaker placement using a left subclavian vein access and developed bilateral pneumothoraces following the procedure. The bilateral pneumothoraces were completely resolved with single left-sided thoracostomy tube placement suggesting the patient had "Buffalo chest".
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Respir Med Case Rep · Jan 2019
Case ReportsTuberculosis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome treated with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a rare but known cause of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with a high mortality. Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) may be an alternative option for treating TB-induced ARDS. However, the literature on TB-induced ARDS treated with VV-ECMO is limited and the most of them were prolonged therapy. ⋯ He was weaned from ECMO on the 5th day of ECMO support and was extubated at the 8th day. He was discharged from hospital on the 47th hospitalized day and continued anti-TB medication at home. VV-ECMO is effective for TB-induced ARDS even in short-term administration if progression of ARDS is rapid.
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Respir Med Case Rep · Jan 2019
Case ReportsA case report of severe hypothermia complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome has not been a described complication of hypothermia. Causes of hypothermia are commonly associated with alcohol abuse and infection, both of which could lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome. ⋯ On review of the literature, severe hypothermia has been found to cause pulmonary edema in post-mortem studies, but acute respiratory distress syndrome has not yet been recognized as a known complication. Our case highlights that acute respiratory distress syndrome may be multifactorial in etiology and related to complications of severe hypothermia.
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Respir Med Case Rep · Jan 2019
Case ReportsCervicofacial subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum secondary to dental treatment in a young man.
The occurrence of cervicofacial subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum is very rare but can be potentially life-threatening. These complications can happen during or after bronchoscopic or dental procedures, esophageal rupture or perforation, infections involving the head and neck and alveolar rupture in the setting of an inciting event such as asthma. ⋯ We report a 36-year-old male who underwent dental treatment for a fractured left lower molar tooth and subsequently developed extensive subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum. The purpose of this report is to bring attention to the fact that obtaining an accurate diagnosis for this condition is very important and management in a timely manner can prevent serious complications.