Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Experimental Procedure for Laboratory Studies of In Situ Burning : Flammability and Burning Efficiency of Crude Oil
Published on: May 1, 2018
Fire-eating: hazards of hydrocarbon aspiration
1Department of Medical Imaging, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. guandalini_ms@internode.on.net
Abstract:
A 30-year-old male fire eater presented following aspiration of hydrocarbon fuel during a performance. A plain chest radiograph carried out 2 h after aspiration showed left lower lobe consolidation. The patient subsequently developed worsening shortness of breath, haemoptysis, fever and myalgia and a repeat plain chest radiograph showed extensive bilateral pulmonary consolidation with mediastinal and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy. Computed tomography showed features consistent with necrotizing pneumonia. The clinical course was complicated by the development of large pleural effusions, pneumatocoeles and a spontaneous pneumothorax. Early abnormalities on a plain chest radiograph following suspected hydrocarbon aspiration require close monitoring for the development of further life-threatening complications.
Related Concept Videos
Acute Respiratory Failure-III
Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation II: ACLS Airway Management
Flame Photometry: Overview
Acute Respiratory Failure-IV
Enthalpy and Heat of Reaction
