Publication
Title
Plastic bronchitis in a 5-year-old boy causing asystoly and fatal outcome
Author
Abstract
Here we present the case of a 5-year-old boy who experienced a prehospital cardiac arrest after a period of wheezing, upper respiratory tract infection, and diarrhea. After successful resuscitation, ventilation was initially extremely difficult for no obvious reason. Various bronchodilatatory therapies were started with only limited result. Diagnosis of plastic bronchitis was made after bronchoscopy and at autopsy when therapy was withdrawn in view of the absence of cerebral circulation. A thickened basal membrane, a specific hallmark of asthma, was also present. Cardiac arrest in plastic bronchitis due to inflammatory and allergic disease is very rare. Pathological examination of the cast showed a mucinous cast with neutrophilic granulocytes, which is also seldom seen. This case illustrates that the diagnosis of plastic bronchitis can be extremely difficult if only minor respiratory symptoms occur. This resulted in a delayed diagnosis and fatal outcome.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of asthma / Association for the Care of Asthma. - New York, N.Y., 1981, currens
Publication
New York, N.Y. : 2009
ISSN
0277-0903
DOI
10.1080/02770900902915854
Volume/pages
46 :6 (2009) , p. 586-590
ISI
000268707700010
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 08.09.2009
Last edited 04.03.2024
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