Abstract: An asymptomatic 70-year-old man had a barium swallow to screen for gastric cancer. During the examination, the patient aspirated high-density barium contrast medium (200% weight/volume) into his lungs. After 1 h, the patient developed fever, so doctors gave him faropenem 600 mg orally. Chest radiographs showed massive barium sulphate depositions in both lower lobes, middle lobe, and lingula (figure). 48 h later, he became dyspnoeic with worsening hypoxaemia (PaO2 57·2 mm Hg, PaCO2 32·1 mm Hg, breathing room air), and was transferred to our hospital. We treated him with intravenous meropenem 1 g/day and clindamycin 1200 mg/day, physical therapy with postural drainage, and oxygen. He recovered, and was discharged 7 days later. Aspiration of large amounts of barium sulphate is a rare incident during radiographic contrast procedures. In spite of the inert character of barium sulphate, the aspiration of high-density barium is potentially life-threatening.
Publication Year: 2004
Publication Date: 2004-12-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 29
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