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Brillo pad crack screen aspiration and ingestion
1Department of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque 87131-5246, USA.
The Journal of Emergency Medicine
|December 16, 1998
Summary
A woman experienced throat irritation and voice changes after inhaling a steel wool filter from a crack cocaine pipe. Imaging confirmed the foreign body in her abdomen, and she recovered fully without complications.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Pulmonology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Crack cocaine is frequently smoked using metallic filters, often made from steel wool.
- Complications arising from smoking crack cocaine are not well-documented in medical literature.
Observation:
- A 34-year-old female presented with throat burning, foreign body sensation, and voice changes after smoking crack cocaine.
- Physical examination revealed inspiratory stridor, but no visible burns or airway obstruction.
- Imaging studies were crucial in identifying the aspirated Brillo pad filter.
Findings:
- Fiberoptic laryngoscopy showed left posterior arytenoid edema and swelling.
- Abdominal X-ray confirmed a foreign body consistent with a Brillo pad filter in the right lower quadrant.
- The patient recovered without sequelae after the foreign body was ingested.
Implications:
- This case highlights the rare but potential risk of foreign body aspiration and ingestion from crack cocaine paraphernalia.
- Healthcare providers should consider this unusual mechanism in patients presenting with relevant symptoms after crack cocaine use.
- Awareness of such complications can aid in timely diagnosis and management.
