Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (대한결핵및호흡기학회)
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Acute Respiratory Distress Due to Methane Inhalation

  • Jo, Jun Yeon (Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center) ;
  • Kwon, Yong Sik (Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center) ;
  • Lee, Jin Wook (Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center) ;
  • Park, Jae Seok (Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center) ;
  • Rho, Byung Hak (Department of Radiology, Keimyung University School of Medicine) ;
  • Choi, Won-Il (Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center)
  • Received : 2012.05.27
  • Accepted : 2012.08.15
  • Published : 2013.03.30
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Abstract

Inhalation of toxic gases can lead to pneumonitis. It has been known that methane gas intoxication causes loss of consciousness or asphyxia. There is, however, a paucity of information about acute pulmonary toxicity from methane gas inhalation. A 21-year-old man was presented with respiratory distress after an accidental exposure to methane gas for one minute. He came in with a drowsy mentality and hypoxemia. Mechanical ventilation was applied immediately. The patient's symptoms and chest radiographic findings were consistent with acute pneumonitis. He recovered spontaneously and was discharged after 5 days without other specific treatment. His pulmonary function test, 4 days after methane gas exposure, revealed a restrictive ventilatory defect. In conclusion, acute pulmonary injury can occur with a restrictive ventilator defect after a short exposure to methane gas. The lung injury was spontaneously resolved without any significant sequela.

Keywords

References

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