E-cigarette Blast Injury: Complex Facial Fractures and Pneumocephalus.
Electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes or e-cigs) are becoming a popular method of recreational nicotine use over recent years. The growth of new brands and devices has been outpacing the FDA's ability to regulate them. As a result, some of these devices fail without warning, most likely from malfunction of the lithium-ion batteries that are in close proximity to volatile compounds within the device. Failures have occurred during both use and storage of the devices or their components. The subsequent injuries from several of these events, including full thickness burns requiring grafting and blast injuries, have been observed at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, a regional trauma and burn center in southern California. One severe case resulted in several maxillofacial fractures, blurred vision, and pneumocephalus after a device failed catastrophically during use. The patient required close monitoring with serial imaging by neurosurgery in the intensive care unit and multiple procedures by oral maxillofacial surgery to reconstruct his facial bones and soft tissue. Ultimately, the patient recovered with minimal permanent damage, but the potential for further injury or even death was apparent. Cases such as this one are becoming more frequent. It is important to increase awareness of this growing problem for both medical professionals and the general public in order to curb this concerning new trend.
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Colton, California.
Benjamin A
BA
Archambeau
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Colton, California.
Stephanie
S
Young
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Colton, California.
Carol
C
Lee
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Colton, California.
Troy
T
Pennington
Loma Linda, California.
Christopher
C
Vanderbeek
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Colton, California Loma Linda University Medical Center, Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery.
Dan
D
Miulli
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Department of General Surgery, Colton, California.
John
J
Culhane
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Colton, California.
Michael
M
Neeki
D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D002140:California; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000601:surgery*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012887:Skull Fractures