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Iatrogenic pleuropulmonary charcoal instillation in a teenager
Author(s) -
Godambe Sandip A.,
Mack Jennifer W.,
Chung David S.,
Lindeman Robert,
Lillehei Craig W.,
Colin Andrew A.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.10272
Subject(s) - medicine , charcoal , activated charcoal , empyema , surgery , tube (container) , accidental , anesthesia , chemistry , materials science , physics , organic chemistry , adsorption , acoustics , engineering , metallurgy , mechanical engineering
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. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 35:490–493. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.