loading page

Case report: Acute respiratory distress syndrome and shock caused by severe chlorine gas poisoning was successfully cured by venous-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
  • +3
  • Boliang Fang,
  • Suyun Qian,
  • Zheng Li,
  • Hengmiao Gao,
  • Wenmiao Xu,
  • Nan Ding
Boliang Fang
Beijing Children's Hospital

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Suyun Qian
Beijing Children's Hospital
Author Profile
Zheng Li
Beijing Children's Hospital
Author Profile
Hengmiao Gao
Beijing Children's Hospital
Author Profile
Wenmiao Xu
Beijing Children's Hospital
Author Profile
Nan Ding
Beijing Children's Hospital
Author Profile

Abstract

Objectives: To report a severe case of severe chlorine poisoning inducing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and shock required venous-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO). Design: Case report. Setting: Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Patients: A 11-year-old boy who admitted to our PICU after inhaled chlorine poisoning. Interventions: V-A ECMO. Measurements and Main Results: After inhaling chlorine, the children quickly developed hypoxia, cyanosis and unconsciousness. After high-condition mechanical ventilation, hypoxia was only slightly improved for a short time, and then deteriorated rapidly and shock occurred. The highest oxygen saturation index was 27.3, and the chest X-ray showed extensive diffuse interstitial parenchyma changes. The oxygenation and circulation was recovered quickly under ECMO. The children received methylprednisolone intravenous injection for 3 days, the pulmonary lesions basically recovered 5 days after onset. He was successfully removed from the ventilator 1 day after the successful removal of ECMO. Follow-up 3 months after discharge showed the pulmonary lesions were completely absorbed and there were no other sequelae. Conclusion: Chemical pneumonia caused by chlorine inhalation can lead to severe ARDS or even shock, but the prognosis is often good. ECMO support should be considered when conventional treatment is ineffective.