Bong Lung
An otherwise healthy young man presented to the ER after the sudden onset of left-sided chest pain, worse with inspiration. Although his vital signs were normal and his respirations were unlabored, he clearly was distressed about these symptoms. His examination, ECG, chest x-ray, and laboratory studies were unremarkable. A CT scan of the chest was performed, which revealed a small apical pneumothorax (collapsed lung).Typically we see spontaneous pneumothoraces in tall/slender individuals, but this gentleman was only 5 feet 8 inches tall. He did admit to marijuana use via a bong, but not on the day in question. Bong use predisposes one to pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum via the Mueller maneuver (inspiration against resistance) and the valsalva maneuver (deep breath hold).
This patient was successfully treated with 100% oxygen by face mask, which supposedly hastens resolution of the pneumothorax by allowing the nitrogen-rich intrathoracic gas (air) to diffuse back into the lung which has been made nitrogen-poor by the addition of oxygen. Or maybe it just gives us something to do while the patient gets better anyway.
posted by scalpel at 6:17 AM
12 Comments:
As always you are a fountain of interesting stories -
"Giving us something to do while the patient gets better" - hmm, we know there is some truth to that, but do you have to give away all our secrects?
Hmmm....we actually had a patient like this recently and the mechanism never occurred to us. I'm going to mention it to my ER doc.
I'll totally have to keep that story in reserve for the next patient that tells me pot isn't dangerous. ;)
Bong lung! I'd not heard of it. Good one.
hope you told him to change the water once in a while :)
Another good reason not to use drugs, including marijuana. (I'm in BC. Pot isn't usually considered a drug around here, hell.. it's smoked at the bus stop like you would a cigarette.)
I had a sp. I thought I was having a heart attack at 16. Sucks being tall and thin. Lol
"Allie said...
I'll totally have to keep that story in reserve for the next patient that tells me pot isn't dangerous. ;)"
~
It ISN'T - Plus , Theres Even Safer Methods of Injesting Including Simply Eating It to Vaporization.
"Common over-the-counter painkillers such as aspirin kill around 20,000 Americans every year, and another 100,000 end up in hospital as a result of taking the drug, new research reveals"
- Proceedings of the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, October 15, 2007.
Marijuana Has Never Killed A Single Human Bieng In The History of Man!
In Fact- We Have body Parts Meant to Take in Cannabinoids!!!
These are Our CB1 and CB2 Cannabinoid Receptors and they help Regulate many important body functions using naturally occuring cannabinoids present such "arachidonoylethanolamide" Which govern many vital bodily functions including:
* appetite * bone density * mood regulation * reproduction * blood pressure * Learning capacity * motor coordination ...
Marijuana is Distinguished From most other currently illicit drugs by the locations of its brain-receptor sites (cb1/cb2 cannabinoid receptors) for two predominant reasons:
(1) The lack of receptors in the medulla significantly reduces the possibility of accidental, or even deliberate, death from THC,
~ and ~
(2) the lack of receptors in the mesocorticolimbic pathway significantly reduces the risks of addiction and serious physical dependence.
Spanish researchers, led by Dr. Manuel Guzman of Complutense University, also irrigated healthy rats' brains with large doses of THC for seven days, to test for harmful biochemical or neurological effects. They found none.
Also - There Has Also Never Been Cannabis - Cancer Link - Just Propoganda and Misinformation Meant To PushThe Public Away From Cannabis and More Towards Their Products/Services (Tobacco/Pharmacueticals/Alcohol/Cotton/Paper/etc)
In Reality - Cannabis Research Promises More Towards a Cancer Cure More So Towards a Cancer cuasing Agent - There ARE Carcinogens in MArijuana. HOWEVER -They are ALL Deactivated and Stalled Due to The Fact Marijuana Bears Psychoactive + Protective THC (the main ingredient in pot with prooven anti-cancer characteristics - it kills cancerous/mutated/dead or dying/aged cells and kills them leaving HEALTHY cells and tissue intact. disabling all carcinogens in the smoke/vapor
Its Illegal for All The Wrong Reasons and Was NEVER About Stopping People From Using Drugs, It Was Created By and Is ept Running By GREED, LIES,and RACISM - Anyone Supporting its Prohibition Is Also Supporting The Lies That Goes Into Keeping It Going - Regardless of If They Know This or If This Is Their Intent.
Prohibition Cant Work Becuase Unless They Somehow Convince %100.00 Percent Of The Population They Dont Want To Buy Drugs Hindering 100 PERCENT OF THE DEMAND ALTOGETHER(which is impossible-)People Will Still Buy Drugs ~ And If They Want It-It Will Come.EVEN WITH ALL THE ENFORMENT IN THE WORLD THEY CANT STOP THE FLOW OF DRUGS To The Country.
EVEN IF THEY DID - AND WON THE WAR ON DRUGS.
THEY WOULD ALL BE OUT OF THE JOB.
They KNow This- They are winning as long as they control you & your money
It Is For this Reason - It Must Be Legalized.
Regardless Of Sciencetific Study- NO DEATHS
Have Resulted Becuase Of It And Any Addiction Is Psycological - not PHYSICAL (like gambling).
Its OBVIOUSLY SAFER THAN ALCOHOL & TOBACCO.
Legalize! Tell Your Patients The Truth And If You Still Don't believe This is The Truth - do Your Own Research.
Be Well!
~Luis Hirschlieb
www.myspace.com/electricspaceodyssy
Interesting post on the absence of pot deaths... However, I should point out that there is an increasing body of evidence that shows that pot increases feelings of depression and anxiety in many individuals, especially with long-term use. In some patients long-term use can lead to schizoid characteristics. At the very least, there's the commonly-observed amotivational syndrome in long-term users.
Hi, i am in my mid 30's and had a pneumothorax recently, and i do smoke cannabis (and i was heavy cigarette smoker) and have done for 10 years or more, not through a bong but occasionally through a small pipe & joints.
I also have a massive amount of friends who smoke alot more cannabis than me and none of them have have have a pnuemothorax or any health problems, it just happens that i am tall and thin.
If i were you i shouldnt jump to too many conclusions about the dangers of cannabis before you study the rate of pneumothorax in smokers vs non smokers, at the end of the day its more to do with height and build.
Also in europe the majority of available street cannabis has been purposefully contaminated with silica sand or minute glass particles used for glass frosting by criminal gangs to add wieght to large shipments. this may give rise to false numbers if not taken into consideration.
I smoked and up until a few months ago I foolishly believed that I was in control. I work in a high profile position and I honestly believed that my behavior and emotions exhibited were no different from anyone else. How terribly wrong were my assumptions? I slowly began to become withdrawn and as a result more anxious of what was becoming of me.. I'm naturally quite perceptive, so the idea of being addicted wasn't far from my mind however because I still remand consistent with work I was oblivious to the signs,( let's face it, where not staring at ourselves all day in the mirror!!) needless to say... the signs turned into reality! I have never felt so hopeless and scared and maybe it's a genetic PRE- disspositipn that was the cause of my breakdown, or the fact that I'm a perfectionist and will push myself to the brink of physical, emotional exhaustion either way I'll never smoke again nor would I condone the habit. I can't believe that soo many people like I did are so blazaye about the effects of drugs on them. I wish I could turn back time and rebuild those relationships i destroyed, the tears I've made so many of the beautiful people around me cry. I hate that person that I was and if your someone out there reading this thinking you don't have a problem, think again because chances are you're probably alright now but one day you'll wake up and want to be someone else. I hope this is helpful to someone, anyone, drugs are shit and they will destroy your life! Say no to drugs!!
Anonymous can go to hell with their sanctimonious judgmental bullsh!t. Who are you to declare that pot is to blame and not you? The part that bothers me is your not condoning others. It's none of your f#cking business what other people do.
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