Abstract
Background
In recent years, the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has increased worldwide.
Most electronic nicotine delivery systems use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries,
which are relatively safe, but in rare cases these batteries can spontaneously combust,
leading to serious full and partial thickness burn injuries. Explosions from lithium-ion
batteries can cause a flash fire and accelerant-related burn injuries.
Case Report
A retrospective chart review was conducted of 3 patients with lithium-ion battery
burns seen at our Level I community-based trauma center. Clinical presentation, management,
and outcome are presented. All 3 patients sustained burn injuries (total body surface
area range 5–13%) from the spontaneous combustion of lithium-ion batteries used for
e-cigarettes. All patients were treated with debridement and local wound care. All
fully recovered without sequelae.
Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This?
Emergency physicians can expect to treat burn cases due to spontaneous lithium-ion
battery combustion as e-cigarette use continues to increase. The cases presented here
are intended to bring attention to lithium-ion battery-related burns, prepare physicians
for the clinical presentation of this burn mechanism, and facilitate patient education
to minimize burn risk.
Keywords
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Journal of Emergency MedicineAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Background paper on E-cigarettes (electronic nicotine delivery systems).(Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, Univevrsity of California, San Francisco, WHO Collaborating Center on Tobacco Control) University of California, San Francisco2013
- Thermal runaway caused fire and explosion of lithium ion battery.J Power Sources. 2012; 208: 210-224
- Cellular phone collateral damage: a review of burns associated with lithium battery powered mobile devices.Burns. 2016; 42: e61-e64
- Electronic cigarettes in the media.Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2016; 29: 280-283
- E-cigarette use among youth and young adults: a report of the Surgeon General.US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, Atlanta, GA2016
- Electronic cigarette use among adults: United States, 2014.NCHS Data Brief. 2015; 217: 1-8
- Guidelines for the operation of burn centers.J Burn Care Res. 2007; 28: 134-141
- Rechargable lithium-ion batteries. Materials/product safety data sheet.(Available at:) (Accessed July 1, 2016)
- E-cigarette use in patients receiving home oxygen therapy.Can Respir J. 2015; 22: 83-85
- Electronic nicotine delivery systems: overheating, fires and explosions.Tob Control. 2016; 26: 1-9
- Lithium-ion battery mater safety data sheet (MSDS).(Available at:) (Accessed July 1, 2016)
- Electronic cigarette fires and explosions.(Available at:) (Accessed April 17, 2017)
- Oral trauma and tooth avulsion following explosion of E-cigarette.J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2015; 74: 1181-1185
- Electronic cigarette explosion injuries: a case series.Am J Emerg Med. 2016; 34: 10-12
- Corneoscleral laceration and ocular burns caused by electronic cigarette explosions.Cornea. 2016; 35: 1015-1018
- Electronic cigarette explosion associated with extensive intraoral injuries.Dent Traumatol. 2017; 33: 149-152
- Explosion injuries from E-cigarettes.N Engl J Med. 2016; 375: 1400-1402
- Electronic vapor cigarette battery explosion causing shotgun-like superficial wounds and contusion.West J Emerg Med. 2016; 17: 177-180
- Spontaneous electronic cigarette explosion: a case report.Am J Med Case Rep. 2015; 3: 93-94
- Injuries caused by explosion of electronic cigarette devices.Eplasty. 2016; 16: ic9
- Rare case of accidental fire and burns caused by e-cigarette batteries.BMJ Case Rep. 2016; 2016https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2015-212868
- Thigh burns from exploding e-cigarette lithium ion batteries: first case series.Burns. 2016; 42: e42-e46
Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 10, 2017
Accepted:
March 27,
2017
Received in revised form:
March 17,
2017
Received:
September 20,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
