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Nitrogen dioxide pneumonitis in ice hockey players
Author(s) -
KARLSONSTIBER C.,
HÖJER J.,
SJÖHOLM Å .,
BLUHM G.,
SALMONSON H.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.625
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1365-2796
pISSN - 0954-6820
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2796.1996.484820000.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ice hockey , nitrogen dioxide , pneumonitis , inhalation , anesthesia , emergency department , lung , physical medicine and rehabilitation , chemistry , organic chemistry , psychiatry
Karlson‐Stiber C, Höjer J, Sjöholm Å, Bluhm G, Salmonson H (Swedish Poison Information Centre, the Department of Internal Medicine, Söder Hospital, and the Department of Environmental Health and Infectious Disease Control, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm; and the Department of Internal Medicine, Löwenströmska Hospital, Upplands Väsby; Sweden). Nitrogen dioxide poisoning with toxic pneumonitis in ice hockey players (Case report). J Intern Med 1996; 239: 451–6. Exposure to the toxic gases carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) in indoor ice arenas occasionally occurs and may result in severe symptoms. The gases are produced by ice resurfacing machines operating on hydrocarbons, and in certain conditions toxic levels accumulate. The damage to lung tissues caused by NO 2 may not be evident until after a latency time of ½–2 days. The role of corticosteroids in the treatment is controversial, but there are clinical experiences as well as experimental data supporting their use. We report two cases of toxic pneumonitis, with delayed onset, due to NO 2 exposure during an ice hockey game in an indoor arena. Signs and symptoms were cough, dyspnoea, haemoptysis, hypoxaemia and reduced peak expiratory flow. Chest radiographs showed parenchymatous infiltrative lesions and alveolar consolidation. Both patients were treated with high doses of corticosteroids by inhalation and orally or intravenously. Their condition rapidly improved and pulmonary function was restored.