Abstract
Background: There is much experience with intoxication by aspiration of volatile hydrocarbon
products, whereas intravenous injection of these distillates is rare. There are only
few reports that describe a wide variety of associated pathological changes, predominantly
in the pulmonary system. Objectives: We report the case of an intravenous self-injection
of gasoline by a young man in a suicide attempt. Case Report: Immediately after injecting
gasoline, the 22-year-old man developed bradycardia, hypotension, and increasing dyspnea.
Computed tomography scan of the chest showed signs consistent with diffuse alveolar-toxic
damage to the lung. These symptoms and radiological findings are similar to those
commonly observed after inhalation of this type of substance. This may have been due
to diffusion of gasoline into the alveoli, where its presence leads to this characteristic
damage. In this patient, gasoline entered the intramuscular tissue, and the patient
developed a soft-tissue phlegmon at the forearm. At operation, gas emanation and superficial
necrosis were noted. Nevertheless, the patient's outcome was good, with full recovery
within 3 weeks. Conclusions: The major changes in this patient after intravenous injection
of gasoline were in the pulmonary system, including hypoxemia and radiological findings
that could be related to an exhalation of the volatile substance. In addition, gas
in the musculature of the injection area caused a soft-tissue phlegmon.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 17, 2009
Accepted:
August 6,
2008
Received in revised form:
May 28,
2008
Received:
March 7,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
