Charcoal lung. Bronchiolitis obliterans after aspiration of activated charcoal.
Activated charcoal usually provides effective and safe treatment for drug overdose. We describe a patient who developed bronchiolitis obliterans and respiratory failure following aspiration of activated charcoal. This patient had a markedly reduced vital capacity with roentgenographic evidence of airtrapping. Chest roentgenograms did not demonstrate the large amount of charcoal identified at postmortem examination.
Department of Medicine, LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City 84143.
C G
CG
Elliott
T V
TV
Colby
T M
TM
Kelly
H G
HG
Hicks
D000293:Adolescent; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000209:etiology*; D002606:Charcoal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000506:poisoning; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000209:etiology*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
D002606:Charcoal; D009661:Nortriptyline