Rapid parenchymal lung injury due to electric shock: a rare and an emergency case of thoracic surgery

Abstract

A 44 year-old male admitted to our hospital due to a high voltage electric shock, first chest x-ray demonstrated partial left mediastinal shift (Figure 1), an hour later respiratory distress, chough, tachypnea and hemoptysis were developed, at the same time chest x-ray and chest computed t omography demonstrated left lower lobe atelectasis, minimal left pneumothorax and complete left mediastinal shift (Figure 2, 3a, 3b). Bronc- hial aspiration was urgently performed with rigid bronchoscopy, the large amounts of bloody sputum was aspirated from the left lower lobe bronchus, control chest-x ray was within normal limits after bronchoscopy and the patient was discharged uneventfully (Figure 4). This case show us, a high voltage electric shock may cause to rapid parenchymal lung injury, f r e q uently radio-logical assessment is important for prevent any complications that may develop.

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