Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (대한결핵및호흡기학회)
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A Case of Acute Lung Injury Caused by Tetrafluoroethylene Inhalation

Tetrafluoroethylene 흡입에 의한 급성폐손상 1예

  • Lee, Su Ok (Department of Internal Medicine, Fatima Hospital) ;
  • Choi, Eun Jung (Department of Internal Medicine, Fatima Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Ka Young (Department of Internal Medicine, Fatima Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Jun Chul (Department of Internal Medicine, Fatima Hospital) ;
  • Park, Jung Chul (Department of Internal Medicine, Fatima Hospital) ;
  • Jung, Chi Young (Department of Internal Medicine, Fatima Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Yeon Jae (Department of Internal Medicine, Fatima Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Byung Ki (Department of Internal Medicine, Fatima Hospital)
  • Received : 2006.10.26
  • Accepted : 2007.03.02
  • Published : 2007.03.30
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Abstract

Tetrafluoroethylene is a colorless gas that can be used to synthesize a variety of fluoride compounds by polymerization (e.g., Teflon). Fluoride compounds have many applications in industry. There are several reports of inhalation injury from the pyrolytic product of fluoride compounds. When the polymer is heated under the conditions of inadequate ventilation, the fumes can cause polymer fume fever or pulmonary edema which manifested as symptoms such as fever, chill, profuse sweating, cough and dyspnea. However there are no reports of a direct lung injury caused by tetrafluoroethylene. We report a case of a 27-year-old male presented with acute lung injury after inhaling concentrated tetrafluoroethylene. He complained of cough and dyspnea after the accidental inhalation of tetrfluoroethylene at his workplace. The symptoms improved without any complications after conservative treatment with oxygen and steroid.

저자들은 도색공장에서 작업 도중 우연히 누출된 tetrafluoroethylene 가스의 흡입으로 인하여 급성폐손상을 받았으나 보존적 치료로 별다른 합병증 없이 비교적 짧은 기간에 치유된 남자 환자 1예를 경험하였기에 문헌고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

Keywords

References

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