Abstract
On Oct 30th, 2008, a car bomb exploded on the University of Navarre (UN) campus, causing serious damages and several fires. On Nov 5th, during the repairing works, gases retained inside the false ceiling were released, causing intoxication by inhalation in about 300 people.
A longitudinal observational study was performed to assess the presentation and outcomes of 230 patients assisted at the Emergency Room (ER) of the UN Hospital.
Employees and students were affected: 104 men and 126 women, with mean age 31±12 y, 23% smokers and 13% with previous respiratory disease. 65% of patients got to the ER on Nov 5th. At the first 6 h commonest complaints were cough (80%), dyspnea (51%), sore throat (38%), and chest tightness (32%). People coming after 6 h had more frequently fever (31%), headache (30%), nausea (25%), asthenia (18%), dizziness (16%), and vomiting (7%). Chest xray (n=218) showed infiltrates in 17.5% and chest CT (n=19) interstitial/alveolar infiltrates in 68%. Blood analysis (n=101) revealed leukocytosis in 65%, and high CRP in 85%. 80 patients were hospitalised (34.8%) with a median length of stay of 1 day (max 5 d). At the ER, patients received bronchodilators (62%) and steroids (54%). Upon discharge, bronchodilators (82%), steroids (30%) and N-acetyl cysteine (82%) were prescribed.
One month after discharge, 206 patients were re-evaluated: 41 (20%) had symptoms, consisting in dyspnea (12%) and cough (11%). Chest xray (n=162) was normal in all the cases. Chest CT (n=36) showed alveolar-interstitial infiltrates in 5 patients. Spirometry (n=193) was normal in all the cases. We describe the clinical features of an acute intoxication by unknown gases, with a biphasic presentation of symptoms and short clinical resolution.
- © 2011 ERS
