Iatrogenic pleuropulmonary charcoal instillation in a teenager.
Activated charcoal given through a nasogastric tube is a standard intervention for many types of toxic ingestions in the emergency department. This case study describes a teenage girl whose multidrug overdose was complicated by accidental charcoal instillation into her left lung and pleural space through a misplaced nasogastric tube. The ensuing empyema did not respond to antibiotic therapy alone, probably due to the inherent properties of charcoal, and required a chest tube placement with continuous irrigation. Unlike previously reported cases, this patient did well clinically, without long-term morbidity.
Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Sandip A
SA
Godambe
Jennifer W
JW
Mack
David S
DS
Chung
Robert
R
Lindeman
Craig W
CW
Lillehei
Andrew A
AA
Colin
D000293:Adolescent; D002606:Charcoal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000628:therapy*
D002606:Charcoal