title: How unclogging a sink can be lethal: case report of an accidental methyl bromide poisoning leading to a multiple organ failure.
abstract: Methyl bromide (CH3Br) is a colorless and odorless volatile gas, used as an insecticide, fire extinguisher, fumigant, and refrigerant. Although forbidden since 1987 for domestic use, it is still used in industry, for example, to fumigate agricultural fields which are for importation in the United States. Here is the case of a 74-year-old man who was accidentally exposed to methyl bromide after using an old fire extinguisher. Even though he finally survived, he developed a severe multiple organ failure and spent 2 months in intensive care unit. We present in this report all the difficulties we had to diagnose this unusual poisoning.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Victor Provo Hospital, Roubaix, France.
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lecailtel
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Victor Provo Hospital, Roubaix, France.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Broucqsault-Dedrie
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Victor Provo Hospital, Roubaix, France.
authors.forename: Clément
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vanbaelinghem
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Victor Provo Hospital, Roubaix, France.
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nyunga
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Victor Provo Hospital, Roubaix, France.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Colling
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Victor Provo Hospital, Roubaix, France.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herbecq
keywords: Intensive care; Methyl bromide; Multiple organ failure; Poisoning