Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Drugs / Reactions, Diagnostic procedure, Digital radiography, CT, Thorax, Pulmonary vessels, Lung
Authors:
J. P. Kanne1, T. Henry2, H. Mann3, S. kligerman4, D. Godwin5; 1Madison, WI/US, 2San Francisco/US, 3Salt Lake City, UT/US, 4San Diego/US, 5Seattle, WA/US
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2019/C-1655
Background
Illicit drug use remains a global public health concern not only because of transmitted infections such as HIV and hepatitis viruses but also because of direct and indirect organ toxicity. It is estimated that approximately 5% of the world's population engages in illicit drug use and up 250,000 deaths per year result from this activity.
Illicit drug use can injure the cardiopulmonary system through systemic and inhalational routes,
and the injuries may be acute or develop slowly. Acute respiratory decompensation,
aspiration,
and pulmonary edema account for approximately 75% of all complications related to illicit drug use. Community acquired infectious pneumonia and septic emboli are responsible for approximately 17% of complications. Pulmonary fibrosis and vasculitis are uncommon,
accounting for <1% of complications.