J Korean Soc Emerg Med.
2011 Aug;22(4):370-375.
Case of Chemical Pneumonitis and Cellulitis after Suicide Attempt by Arteriovenous Fistula Injection of Gasoline
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Keimyung, Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Korea. sjkim@dsmc.or.kr
Abstract
- While much is known concerning intoxication by aspiration of volatile hydrocarbon products, knowledge of intravenous injection of these distillates is rare. This article is a review of various complications after intravascular injection of gasoline. We report a rare case of a suicide attempt of by a male who had chronic renal failure with arteriovenous fistula (AVF). The suicide attempt involved injection of gasoline into the AVF site. After the injection, dermal problem and mild dyspnea developed due to pulmonary edema. These symptoms and radiologic finding of pulmonary edema were similar to those caused by the inhalation of gasoline. The characteristic damage following gasoline inhalation is similar to the present case, and occurs when the gasoline gas spreads to the lung alveoli. In this patient, gasoline entered the AVF site, and the patient developed a soft-tissue phlegmon and cellulitis on the forearm. We did an incision and decompression of the wound, and recreated the AVF site. Two weeks later, the wound was clean and the patient was discharged. The major change after injection of gasoline into the AVF site was chemical pneumonitis, wound inflammation, phlegmon, and malfunction of the AVF site.
