Near fatal respiratory distress following massive ether intravenous injection.
To the best of our knowledge, no case of ether-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been published as yet. A 36-year-old female developed pneumonitis which showed all the characteristics of a chemical-associated ARDS due to intravenous self-administration of ether: the hemodynamic investigation demonstrated a normal blood flow pattern with low left-heart filling pressure while the anteroposterior roentgenogram evidenced disseminated bilateral lung edema. Advanced symptomatic respiratory support including inhaled nitric oxide and steroidal anti-inflammatory use was the treatment of choice.
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Liege, Belgium. B.Lambermont@chu.ulg.ac.be
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B
Lambermont
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Dubois
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Fraipont
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L
Radoux
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D'Orio
D000328:Adult; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D004986:Ether / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy; D012997:Solvents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
D012997:Solvents; D004986:Ether; D009569:Nitric Oxide