Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T02:42:24.963Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Critical airway induced by formalin injection: case report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 December 2013

C-F Yeh  and
T-L Lee
C-F Yeh
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan Department of Otolaryngology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
T-L Lee*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan Department of Otolaryngology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
*
Address for correspondence: Dr T-L Lee, Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201, Section 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan, Republic of China Fax: +886 2 28757338 E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

Formalin is a saturated aqueous solution comprising 37–40 per cent formaldehyde. It is often used in histopathology laboratories as a tissue preservative. The ingestion or injection of formalin has an immediate, powerful and destructive impact on humans. This paper reports a case of formalin injection and reviews the relevant world literature.

Case report:

A 36-year-old male attempted suicide by injecting formalin into the right side of his neck, resulting in a critical airway situation. An endotracheal tube was inserted and a tracheostomy was then performed to secure his airway. After receiving medical treatment, including antibiotics and N-acetyl cysteine, the status of the patient's airway improved.

Conclusion:

When examining patients who have injected substances into their neck, the possibility of deep neck inflammation with airway compromise should be considered. Immediate management, which should include establishment of a definitive airway and prophylactic infection control, is crucial.

Keywords

FormalinAirway ObstructionComputed Tomography, X-Ray
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 128 , Issue 1 , January 2014 , pp. 107 - 109
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Formaldehyde, 2-butoxyethanol and 1-tert-butoxypropan-2-ol. IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risks Hum 2006;88:1–478Google Scholar
2Pandey, CK, Agarwal, A, Baronia, A, Singh, N. Toxicity of ingested formalin and its management. Hum Exp Toxicol 2000;19:360–6Google Scholar
3Pongsavee, M. In vitro study of lymphocyte antiproliferation and cytogenetic effect by occupational formaldehyde exposure. Toxicol Ind Health 2011;27:719–23Google Scholar
4Yanagawa, Y, Kaneko, N, Hatanaka, K, Sakamoto, T, Okada, Y, Yoshimitu, S. A case of attempted suicide from the ingestion of formalin. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2007;45:72–6Google Scholar
5Hilbert, G, Gruson, D, Bedry, R, Cardinaud, JP. Circulatory shock in the course of fatal poisoning by ingestion of formalin. Intensive Care Med 1997;23:708Google Scholar
6Koppel, C, Baudisch, H, Schneider, V, Ibe, K. Suicidal ingestion of formalin with fatal complications. Intensive Care Med 1990;16:212–14Google Scholar
7Casanova, M, Heck, Hd'A. Further studies of the metabolic incorporation and covalent binding of inhaled [3H]- and [14C]formaldehyde in Fischer-344 rats: effect of glutathione depletion. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1987;89:105–21Google Scholar
8Arakeri, G, Brennan, PA. Inadvertent injection of formalin mistaken for local anesthetic agent: report of a case. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2012;113:581–2Google Scholar
9Gupta, DS, Srivastava, S, Tandon, PN, Jurel, S, Sharma, S, Singh, S Jr.Formalin-induced iatrogenic cellulitis: a rare case of dental negligence. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2011;69:e525–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10Putterman, AM. Accidental formaldehyde injection in cosmetic blepharoplasty: case report. Arch Ophthalmol 1990;108:19–20Google Scholar
11Lisman, RD, Hyde, K, Smith, B. Complications of blepharoplasty. Clin Plast Surg 1988;15:309–35Google Scholar
12Smith, BC, Nesi, FA. Upper lid loss due to formalin injection: surgical reconstruction. Ophthalmology 1979;86:1951–5Google Scholar