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Beware the wrong way! A report on gastrografin inhalation
1 Department of Translational Medicine, University Hospital St. Anna, Via A. Moro 8, 44124, Cona, Ferrara, Italy
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Matteo Guarino
Department of Translational Medicine, Emergency Medicine Unit, St. Anna Hospital, Via A. Moro 8, 44124 Cona (FE),
Italy
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Article ID: 101262Z01MG2021
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Guarino M, Alfano F, Gambuti E, Perna B, De Giorgio R. Beware the wrong way! A report on gastrografin inhalation. Int J Case Rep Images 2021;12:101262Z01MG2021.ABSTRACT
No Abstract
Keywords: Aspiration, Gastrografin, Pneumonia
Case Report
An 83-year-old man was admitted to the Emergency Department of St. Anna University Hospital, Cona, Italy, after he had inhaled diatrizoate (gastrografin), a well-known hyperosmolar contrast agent, during an X-ray of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The family physician recommended the patient to take the test in order to demonstrate a possible hiatal hernia. While swallowing gastrografin he had an esophageal spasm (detected at fluoroscopy), which led to the inhalation of the contrast agent. After the episode, he was completely asymptomatic, eupnoeic, and with a good peripheral oxygen saturation. The physical examination was unremarkable. A chest X-ray of the lungs showed accumulation of the contrast agent in the distal bronchial tree (arrows in Figure 1A and Figure 1B), with the right part being more involved because of the straight orientation of the right bronchus.
Discussion
Conclusion
No clinical abnormalities or short-term complications were noted in the patient herein reported. However, a cautionary treatment with parenteral steroid and clarithromycin therapy was performed. The patient was discharged in good health in less than 48 hours from admission.
REFERENCES
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Friedman BI, Hartenberg MA, Mulroy JJ, Tong TK, Mickell JJ. Gastrografin aspiration in a 3 ¾-year-old girl. Pediatr Radiol 1986;16(6):506–7. [CrossRef]
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Tuladhar R, Patole S, Whitehall J. Gastrografin aspiration in a neonate with tracheoesophageal fistula. J Paediatr Child Health 2000;36(1):94–5. [CrossRef]
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SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Drs. Franco Guerzoni and Elena Forini, from the Statistical Service of St. Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy, for helpful assistance in data collection.
Author ContributionsMatteo Guarino - Conception of the work, Design of the work, Drafting the work, Final approval of the version to be published, Agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Franco Alfano - Drafting the work, Final approval of the version to be published, Agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Edoardo Gambuti - Drafting the work, Final approval of the version to be published, Agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Benedetta Perna - Revising the work critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published, Agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Roberto De Giorgio - Revising the work critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published, Agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Guarantor of SubmissionThe corresponding author is the guarantor of submission.
Source of SupportNone
Consent StatementWritten informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this article.
Data AvailabilityAll relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.
Conflict of InterestAuthors declare no conflict of interest.
Copyright© 2021 Matteo Guarino et al. This article is distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium provided the original author(s) and original publisher are properly credited. Please see the copyright policy on the journal website for more information.
