바로가기메뉴

본문 바로가기 주메뉴 바로가기

Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases

Article Contents

Prev Next
e-Submission

Vol.74 No.3
Citation Share

Acute Respiratory Distress Due to Methane Inhalation

Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases / Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases,
2013, v.74 no.3, pp.120-123
Jun Yeon Jo (Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center)
Yong Sik Kwon (Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center)
Jin Wook Lee (Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center)



Jun, Y. J. , Yong, S. K. , Jin, W. L. , & (2013). Acute Respiratory Distress Due to Methane Inhalation. Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases, 74(3), 120-123.
  • Downloaded
  • Viewed
PDF Download

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
Methane, Smoke Inhalation Injury, Respiratory Insufficiency

Reference

1.

Byard RW, Wilson GW. Death scene gas analysis in suspected methane asphyxia. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 1992;13:69-71.

2.

Terazawa K, Takatori T, Tomii S, Nakano K. Methane asphyxia: coal mine accident investigation of distribution of gas. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 1985;6:211-4.

3.

Kucuker H. Occupational fatalities among coal mine workers in Zonguldak, Turkey, 1994-2003. Occup Med (Lond) 2006;56:144-6.

4.

Knoblauch A, Steiner B. Major accidents related to manure: a case series from Switzerland. Int J Occup Environ Health 1999;5:177-86.

5.

Beaver RL, Field WE. Summary of documented fatalities in livestock manure storage and handling facilities: 1975-2004. J Agromedicine 2007;12:3-23.

6.

Baldursdottir S, Sigvaldason K, Karason S, Valsson F, Sigurdsson GH. Induced hypothermia in comatose survivors of asphyxia: a case series of 14 consecutive cases. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2010;54:821-6.

7.

Wallace GM, Brown PH. Horse rug lung: toxic pneumonitis due to fluorocarbon inhalation. Occup Environ Med 2005;62:414-6.

8.

Parra ER, Noleto GS, Tinoco LJ, Capelozzi VL. Immunophenotyping and remodeling process in small airways of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias: functional and prognostic significance. Clin Respir J 2008;2:227- 38.

9.

Weibrecht KW, Rhyee SH. Acute respiratory distress associated with inhaled hydrocarbon. Am J Ind Med 2011;54:911-4.

Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases

e-Submission OA Policy