Open AccessPotentially fatal ingestion of heat‐not‐burn cigarettes successfully treated by gastric lavage
Author(s) -
Yumoto Tetsuya,
Hamaguchi Hisashi,
Mae Souichiro,
Nakao Atsunori
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of the american college of emergency physicians open
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2688-1152
DOI - 10.1002/emp2.12283
Subject(s) - ingestion , medicine , gastric lavage , nicotine , electronic cigarette , toxicity , emergency department , anesthesia , pathology , psychiatry
Newly introduced heat‐not‐burn or electronic cigarettes can cause lethal nicotine intoxication if ingested at higher doses. Although routine gastric lavage is not recommended, it should be considered if the amount of intoxicant is lethal. A 59‐year‐old man with a history of depression was brought to our emergency department after intentional ingestion of 8 heat‐not‐burn cigarettes, which were estimated to contain a total of 100 mg of nicotine. Abdominal computed tomography confirmed the gastric contents, detecting multiple stick‐like and rod‐shaped high‐density structures. Gastric lavage was performed to minimize absorption of the potentially lethal nicotine dose. The patient exhibited only mild gastrointestinal symptoms. Emergency physicians should be aware of this novel heat‐not‐burn cigarette and its toxicity.