title: Thermal injury patterns associated with electronic cigarettes.
abstract: E-cigarettes are typically lithium-ion battery-operated devices that simulate smoking by heating a nicotine-solution into a vapor that the user inhales. E-cigarette use is becoming rapidly popular as an alternative to traditional cigarette smoking. This report describes an emerging problem associated with e-cigarettes, consisting of 10 thermally injured patients seen at a single burn center over a 2-year period from 2014 to 2016. Our cohort was comprised mainly of young adults who sustained mixed partial and full thickness burns as a result of e-cigarette-related explosions. In many documented scenarios, a malfunctioning or over-heated battery is the cause. Our data support the need for increased awareness among healthcare providers and the general public of the potential harms of e-cigarette use, modification, storage, and charging.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Fort Sam Houston, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Alisha Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Jiwani
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Fort Sam Houston, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Institute of Surgical ResearchFort Sam Houston, Texas, United States of America; Uniformed Services University of Health SciencesBethesda, Maryland, United States of America.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Institute of Surgical ResearchFort Sam Houston, Texas, United States of America; Uniformed Services University of Health SciencesBethesda, Maryland, United States of America.
authors.forename: Kevin K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Fort Sam Houston, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Booker T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Fort Sam Houston, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Leopoldo C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Cancio
keywords: Electronic cigarette; burns; e-cigarette; lithium-ion battery