Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology (대한임상독성학회지)

Korean society of Clincal Toxicology (대한임상독성학회)
권호 표지

A Case of Acute Respiratory Failure After Trichloroethylene Inhalation

트리클로로에틸렌 흡입으로 인한 호흡부전 1례

  • Park, Jae-Seok (Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital) ;
  • Jeon, Young-Woo (Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Young-Il (Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital) ;
  • Gil, Hyo-Wook (Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital) ;
  • Yang, Jong-Oh (Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Eun-Young (Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital) ;
  • Hong, Sae-Yong (Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital)
  • 박재석 (순천향대학교 천안병원 내과학교실) ;
  • 전영우 (순천향대학교 천안병원 내과학교실) ;
  • 김영일 (순천향대학교 천안병원 내과학교실) ;
  • 길효욱 (순천향대학교 천안병원 내과학교실) ;
  • 양종오 (순천향대학교 천안병원 내과학교실) ;
  • 이은영 (순천향대학교 천안병원 내과학교실) ;
  • 홍세용 (순천향대학교 천안병원 내과학교실)
  • Received : 2011.04.05
  • Accepted : 2011.05.23
  • Published : 2011.06.16
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Trichloroethylene (TCE, $C_2HCl_3$), which was introduced as a gas for general anesthesia and analgesia in early 1900's has been widely used in industry as an organic solvent. Occupational exposure to TCE is an important medical problem. Manifestations of acute exposure to TCE include mucocutaneous irritation, hepatotoxicity, cognitive impairment, sleep, headache, respiratory insufficiency and death. We report a 38-year-old man who was admitted to a department of emergency medicine after occupational inhalation exposure to TCE. He rapidly developed semicoma and respiratory depression. After mechanical ventilation, hypercapnea and hypoxemia disappeared and his mental state again became alert. Careful evaluation and proper respiratory support are important for respiratory failure after occupational TCE inhalation.

Keywords