Potentially life-threatening emergency
Hydrocarbon aspiration
Alerts and Notices
Important News & Links
Synopsis
Hydrocarbon aspiration is a rare cause of respiratory failure and death due to accidental ingestion. It is most common in children under the age of 6. This is also seen in adolescents who huff or inhale these products. Rarely, it may be seen in an adult in the setting of occupational exposure.
Hydrocarbon-containing products include petroleum distillates, mineral oil, kerosene, gasoline, engine oil, naphtha, lamp oil, turpentine, carbon tetrachloride, lighter fluid, furniture polish, and cosmetics such as baby oil, sunscreen, massage oil, and nail enamel dryer. Aspiration is more common in hydrocarbons with lower viscosity and surface tension such as kerosene, gasoline, turpentine, and furniture polish.
Direct injury to the lungs results in a chemical pneumonitis that can lead to atelectasis, interstitial inflammation, and necrotizing pneumonia and can culminate in respiratory failure. Symptoms include coughing, hypoxia, gagging, choking, and vomiting.
Ingesting hydrocarbons can cause irritation and inflammation of the oropharynx and upper gastrointestinal tract and can lead to nausea and hematemesis, although these effects are usually mild and rarely require treatment.
Either inhalation or ingestion can result in the development of cardiac dysrhythmias such as fatal ventricular arrhythmias ("sudden sniffing deaths" due to sensitization of the myocardium of catecholamines). Hydrocarbons also affect the central nervous system (CNS) by entering the gastrointestinal or pulmonary circulation, leading to lethargy, coma, inebriation, seizures, or ventricular arrhythmias. Onset of symptoms is typically within 30 minutes but can be delayed 12-24 hours. Severe complications include asphyxia, hemorrhagic pulmonary edema, and necrotizing chemical pneumonitis that can progress to shock and respiratory failure.
Hydrocarbon-containing products include petroleum distillates, mineral oil, kerosene, gasoline, engine oil, naphtha, lamp oil, turpentine, carbon tetrachloride, lighter fluid, furniture polish, and cosmetics such as baby oil, sunscreen, massage oil, and nail enamel dryer. Aspiration is more common in hydrocarbons with lower viscosity and surface tension such as kerosene, gasoline, turpentine, and furniture polish.
Direct injury to the lungs results in a chemical pneumonitis that can lead to atelectasis, interstitial inflammation, and necrotizing pneumonia and can culminate in respiratory failure. Symptoms include coughing, hypoxia, gagging, choking, and vomiting.
Ingesting hydrocarbons can cause irritation and inflammation of the oropharynx and upper gastrointestinal tract and can lead to nausea and hematemesis, although these effects are usually mild and rarely require treatment.
Either inhalation or ingestion can result in the development of cardiac dysrhythmias such as fatal ventricular arrhythmias ("sudden sniffing deaths" due to sensitization of the myocardium of catecholamines). Hydrocarbons also affect the central nervous system (CNS) by entering the gastrointestinal or pulmonary circulation, leading to lethargy, coma, inebriation, seizures, or ventricular arrhythmias. Onset of symptoms is typically within 30 minutes but can be delayed 12-24 hours. Severe complications include asphyxia, hemorrhagic pulmonary edema, and necrotizing chemical pneumonitis that can progress to shock and respiratory failure.
Codes
ICD10CM:
T53.6X1A – Toxic effect of other halogen derivatives of aliphatic hydrocarbons, accidental (unintentional), initial encounter
SNOMEDCT:
111776002 – Toxic effect of hydrocarbon gas
T53.6X1A – Toxic effect of other halogen derivatives of aliphatic hydrocarbons, accidental (unintentional), initial encounter
SNOMEDCT:
111776002 – Toxic effect of hydrocarbon gas
Look For
Subscription Required
Diagnostic Pearls
Subscription Required
Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
To perform a comparison, select diagnoses from the classic differential
Subscription Required
Best Tests
Subscription Required
Management Pearls
Subscription Required
Therapy
Subscription Required
References
Subscription Required
Last Reviewed:06/20/2018
Last Updated:06/20/2018
Last Updated:06/20/2018
Potentially life-threatening emergency
Hydrocarbon aspiration