Apropos of a fatal case of poisoning by household aerosol
Bourzai, M.; Malauzat, C.; Lagorce, J.; Babin, A.
Le Poumon et le Coeur 34(1): 71-76
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0032-5821 PMID: 643781 Document Number: 129266
The authors present a case of abusive use of nitrogen in aerosol. It produced an acute edema primarily toxic bringing a hypoxemia amidst the coronarian network already partially occluded. It is rapidly followed by a subendocardiac infarct of the myocardium with left ventricular failure. The abnormal gas exchanges (alveolo-capillary block) taking place on the 15th day are discussed. Autopsy revealed a typical "cardiac lung", the presence of hyalin membranes and an early fibroblastic proliferation. These abnormalities corroborate the hemodynamic character, perhaps toxic, of pulmonary lesions.