Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Case Report

A Case of Lung Injury due to Acute Exposure to Oxides of Nitrogen: Jeong Ho Kim, Dae Hwan Kim, Byung Chul Son, Chang Hee Lee, Jung Won Kim, Doeg Hwan Moon, Chae Un Lee, Joo In Kim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2000;12(2):302-309. Published online June 30, 2000; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2000.12.2.302

Abstract PDF: OBJECTIVES
Lung injuries due to exposure to nitrogen oxides can occur in various process in industry. We experienced a case of chemical pneumonitis induced by accidental inhalation of nitrogen oxides emitted from the bath in an acid dipping operation.
CASE
Dyspnea, cough and blood-tinged sputum production, cyanosis, and tachypnea occurred after exposure to oxides of nitrogen. There were bilateral diffuse ground glass opacities in simple chest radiography and high resolutional computed tomography, hypoxemia in arterial blood gas analysis, mixed ventilation defect and reduced diffusion capacity in spirometry. As an oxygen and supportive therapy, after hospitalization, was given, the patient recovered completely from the lung injury on the 8th day after admission. There was no evidence of delayed onset of bronchiolitis obliterance or pulmonary edema in a follow-up for about 6 months.
CONCLUSIONS
Acid dip operation require more efficient hooding and exhausting system for the prevention of lung injuries caused by inhalation of nitrogen oxides. Also health education for worker need.

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