title: Pulse steroid therapy in adult respiratory distress syndrome following petroleum naphtha ingestion.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan. yk119@kitasato-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamijo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soma
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asari
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohwada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000473:Alkanes / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D010578:Petroleum / Q000633:toxicity*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000473:Alkanes; D010578:Petroleum; D011239:Prednisolone; C004544:naphtha; D006854:Hydrocortisone