Botulism with respiratory insufficiency requiring extra corporeal carbon dioxide removal
Buchmann, T.; Kabatnik, M.; Sander, A.; Peters, J.
European Journal of Anaesthesiology 16(5): 346-349
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0265-0215 PMID: 10390672 Document Number: 504045
Despite a low incidence of botulism in the industrialized world some cases occasionally occur in Germany after eating contaminated food. Because botulism is rarely seen, most physicians are unfamiliar with its early recognition and treatment. However, immediate intensive care treatment is important. We report the case of a previously healthy 54-year-old female who developed signs of botulism after eating vacuum packed smoked fish and developed severe respiratory insufficiency with difficult carbon dioxide elimination in the days following.