HWN Suggests

CRACKCast E158 – Hydrocarbons

Gastrointestinal decontamination is potentially harmful in cases of hydrocarbon ingestion and is contraindicated.

Hydrocarbon inhalant abuse can cause CNS and cardiotoxic effects. Symptoms of toxicity, especially aspiration, can be delayed, so asymptomatic patients should be observed for 6 hours and given clear instructions to return if symptoms develop after discharge.

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Featured

 Huffing Hydrocarbons: Inhalant Abuse

There is not a specific antidote… supportive care is the best!

 Hydrocarbons: The Deadly Poison Found in Everyone’s Home

This is just a partial list of hydrocarbon products. Cosmetics – Baby, hair and bath oils; sunscreen; nail enamel dryers and makeup removers. Cleaning Products – Cleaners (such as: wood oil, metal, adhesive and pine), spot remover and liquid furniture polish. Automotive – Gasoline, kerosene, gasoline additives, fuel injection cleaners and carburetor cleaners.

 TOXCard: Hydrocarbon Toxicity

Pulmonary complications are the most commonly reported adverse effect and usually result from aspiration of an ingested hydrocarbon. Hydrocarbon aspiration leads to direct lung injury, including necrotizing chemical pneumonitis and hemorrhagic pulmonary edema, which can manifest as a cough or shortness of breath and rapidly progress to hypoxia and respiratory failure.

Articles of Interest

Huffing Away – Toxicology Blog

Most common route of exposure varies by age group: age <5, most common route is ingestion as a result of exploratory behavior; for adolescents, it is intentional inhalation.

Hydrocarbon toxicity

Hydrocarbons cause rapid CNS depression, seizures and rarely cardiac dysrhythmias. Aspiration causes a chemical pneumonitis and this risk is increased in those products that have the lowest viscosity. Common agents encountered include essential oils like eucalyptus oil in children, kerosene, petroleum, turpentine and toluene... All patients who are clinical well at 6 hours are medically fit for discharge. This requires normal vital signs including saturations, no cough, wheeze or dyspnoea.

Hydrocarbon Toxicity: Sniff and DIE

Anytime you can talk about Sudden Sniffing Death Death Syndrome is an intriguing day. Also, we cover some ASMR. Let’s talk hydrocarbons- presentation, what you need to look out for, and how to manage these potentially very sick patients.

Know How to Treat Hydrocarbon Poisoning

Although most of this hydrocarbon is ingested, the off-gassing or volatility is the most dangerous aspect of this type of poisoning.

Parenteral Hydrocarbon Injection and Associated Toxicities: Two Case Reports

We present a pair of cases and associated visual images of complications from intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SC) WD-40 injection. Additionally, we will discuss complications from parenteral hydrocarbon exposures, in particular pulmonary injury and local tissue reactions as observed in our cases.

Resources

WikEM

Low viscosity and surface tension of hydrocarbons make them high aspiration risk.

Anesthesia Key

Coughing, gagging, chocking, and vomiting after hydrocarbon ingestion are presumptive of aspiration... Pulmonary toxicity is the primary concern after hydrocarbon ingestions. The exact pathogenesis of hydrocarbon-induced pulmonary toxicity is debated in the literature; however, aspiration of hydrocarbons can lead to direct injury of lung tissue.

Common examples of hydrocarbon...

Although hydrocarbons include all compounds composed predominantly of carbon and hydrogen, the compounds of interest are derived from petroleum and wood. Most of the dangerous hydrocarbons are derived from petroleum distillates and include aliphatic (straight-chain) hydrocarbons and aromatic (benzene-containing) hydrocarbons. Other hydrocarbons such as pine oil and turpentine are derived from wood.

StatPearls

Hydrocarbons are compounds comprised of hydrogen and carbon. They are classified as either aromatic (cyclic) or aliphatic (straight-chained). These are typically the chief components in many types of fuels and products used every day.