[Volcano in the Pocket: Danger Induced by Electronic Cigarettes]

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Emergency Medicine
• Consumer Product Safety

Background:

• Electronic cigarettes utilize lithium-ion batteries, which can undergo thermal runaway.
• Thermal runaway incidents involving these batteries can cause severe thermal and chemical burns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report two cases of severe lower extremity burns from electronic cigarette spare batteries.
• To highlight the inadequacy of current burn guidelines regarding lithium chemical burn treatment.

Main Methods:

• Case report of two male patients with deep second-degree burns.
• Review of standard burn treatment protocols and chemical burn management.

Main Results:

• Both patients sustained burns from thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries carried in pockets.
• Water irrigation, a common initial treatment for burns, is not recommended for lithium chemical burns.

Conclusions:

• Thermal runaway of electronic cigarette batteries can cause significant injury.
• Official burn guidelines should be updated to specify that water irrigation is not the recommended initial treatment for lithium chemical burns.