[Lung injury after use of respiratory revival materials sterilized with ethylene oxide]

One of the most used method of medical appliances sterilization uses ethylene oxide. At high concentration, this very reactive product, causes caustic burns of skin and mucous membranes. In one case of acute pulmonary oedema, levels of ethylene oxide in the endotracheal catheter were discovered. This led us to review the toxicological data on this substance. It should be emphasized that the sterilization and the desorption according to simple and precise rules should prevent such acute accidents.