A Case of Chemical Pneumonitis Induced by Glutaraldehyde Aspiration / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

Glutaraldehyde is a five-carbon dialdehyde with highly reactive chemical properties. It has bactericidal, sporicidal, and fungicidal activities and is used as a disinfectant to combat foot-and-mouth disease in Korea. To our knowledge, there are no reports of chemical pneumonitis caused by glutaraldehyde aspiration. Chemical pneumonitis is defined as lung irritation caused by substances toxic to the lungs. We treated a 71-year-old patient who had a dyspnea and hoarseness that worsened 7 h after ingesting three mouthfuls of 10% glutaraldehyde. Upon arrival at the emergency room, he had severe laryngeal swelling. A chest radiograph showed diffuse haziness of both lower-lung fields. Despite all our efforts at treatment, he died from chemical pneumonitis and its secondary complications.